THE Dragons Under-18s won the Regional Age-Grade Championship after continuing their perfect season with a 19-10 win against the Scarlets.

The region went into the clash at their Ystrad Mynach training base with six wins from six and they turned over their nearest rivals to claim the title.

Dragons produced some solid defence in the opening exchanges as Scarlets looked to start the game fast as the rain came down.

The hosts went down the other end and locks Ben Carter and Joe Peard combined to break down the middle but the latter saw a try chalked off for a double movement.

Visiting fly half Bradley Roderick missed a penalty wide left after 15 minutes before home wing Morgan Richards almost scored a superb solo effort after breaking the line and kicking ahead.

However, the opening try in the drizzle did arrive on 25 minutes when the forwards rumbled up close and loosehead prop Dylan Bartlett fired a long pass to number eight Ben Moa to cross in the corner.

Scarlets hit back early in the second half when visiting captain Sam Williams crashed over but back came Dragons with wing Carrick McDonough showing blistering pace to latch onto a long clearance kick.

The wing grabbed his second of the night after reacting first to a chip ahead into the 22 and not even a consolation score from Scarlets could dampen the party as Dragons captain Ben Carter lifted the silverware.

“Winning the Under-18 title certainly bodes well for the future at Dragons,” said Matt O’Brien, who coaches the team along with academy manager James Chapron, Sam Hobbs and Lewis Evans.

“We had six players recently involved with Wales Under-20s as they beat Italy in the Six Nations and we hope the Under-18s will be full of Dragons too.

“It’s good for the region to see that young talent and hopefully they continue to come through, develop and push for the senior team in the near future.

“They have a couple of steps to go yet, but we all hope they come through and we see these faces running out at Rodney Parade.

“Ultimately the goal is to produce players for the region. Everyone in the Academy is working extremely hard to meet that target and results like the Under-18 title bodes well for the future."

“We’re all really chuffed for the boys. We came second last year so it is nice to go one better this season and get the title,” he continued.

“They have worked hard this last 18 months, train hard and are up here three times a week so I’m very proud. They deserve this.”

The Dragons have an away game remaining at RGC 1404 on Sunday, February 24 (kick-off 2pm) with Newport fly-half O’Brien wanting to keep the perfect record.

He said: “I was the typical miserable coach and reminded them there is still one game to go and the target has to be to try and go undefeated!

“It is really pleasing to win the title, but it would be fantastic to go the entire season without a loss.”

Dragons Under-18s: Jake Morgan, Ewan Rosser, Lewis Bates, Ollie Lewis, Morgan Richards, Will Reed, Dylan Davies; Dylan Bartlett, Brodie Coghlan, Owen Peddle, Joe Peard, Ben Carter, Benji Hoppe, Matthew Jefferies, Ben Moa.

Replacements: Connor Chapman, Aaron Dowse, Henry Hibbs, George Young, Joe Coope-Franklin, Morgan Lloyd, Cian Jones, Carrick McDonough.