Scott Williams had a Judgement Day to remember as his man-of-the-match display inspired Scarlets to a 34-20 win at Principality Stadium to keep their hopes of a Guinness PRO12 top-four spot alive. The 34-cap Wales international had been out of action with a knee injury since September but it was as if he had never been away – scoring one try and creating two others in an entertaining contest. Fly-half Steven Shingler contributed 19 points as Scarlets recorded their third victory over the Dragons in four editions of Judgement Day and are now just one point behind fourth-placed Ulster in the table with one match remaining. Williams and Shingler both crossed the whitewash for the West Walians before the break to help establish a 20-13 lead at half-time as Adam Warren did likewise for their opponents. Steffan Evans’ try extended that advantage early in the second half and although Adam Hughes touched down for the Dragons, Gareth Davies’ late score sealed the victory, the four-try bonus point and Champions Cup rugby next season. The result means the Dragons are still yet to taste victory in four attempts at Judgement Day while their wait for a first Guinness PRO12 win since January also rumbles on. The two teams had plenty to live up to following the thriller Cardiff Blues and Ospreys put on earlier in the afternoon but they more than achieved that with a hard-fought, compelling contest. The tone was set in the first minute when Dragons centre Warren barrelled through the defensive line yet it was Scarlets who got the first points on the board on eight minutes. Williams couldn’t have marked his return from the serious knee injury he suffered last September in better fashion as he dotted down and Shingler converted. Williams and Shingler were at it again five minutes later – the Welsh international proving once and for all his knee is back to full health by streaking down the field for the initial break and a few phases later the fly-half finished it off under the posts. But to their credit, the Dragons responded on 22 minutes as giant lock Rynard Landman charged down an attempted kick clear and Warren was on hand to cross the whitewash. After the breathless opening quarter, ill-discipline began to take hold for both sides and Shingler and Angus O’Brien took advantage to slot two penalties apiece, ensuring the Scarlets took a 20-13 lead into half-time. With just 40 minutes of Judgement Day rugby remaining, the crowd roared both teams back on to the field and the Scarlets fans in attendance were soon celebrating again as more brilliant work from Shingler and Williams enabled Evans to dot down – the conversion making it 27-13. With just 15 minutes remaining, the Dragons looked set to narrow that deficit after kicking a penalty to the corner and setting up camp on the Scarlets’ tryline but a knock-on scuppered those hopes. However, their disappointment was short-lived as the always-impressive Carl Meyer scooped up the kick clear and burst forward before working the ball to Hughes and the qualified pilot flew over the whitewash. O’Brien’s conversion made the score 27-20 to set up a thrilling finale but Scarlets boosted their top-four hopes with a crucial bonus-point try four minutes from time. A steady build-up ended when replacement scrum-half Davies touched down and Shingler’s successful conversion was the final scoring act of memorable Judgement Day at Principality Stadium. To buy tickets for the Guinness PRO12 Grand Final click here. Also follow us on Facebook, join the conversation on Twitter, sign up to our YouTube channel for extensive match highlights and sign up for our newsletter for regular updates on the Guinness PRO12.
