THE derby form book sadly stayed inside the window as Newport Gwent Dragons endured another loss to Welsh rivals in Llanelli despite a superb first half against the Scarlets.

The Rodney Parade side were more than good value for a 20-16 lead at the break out west thanks to tries by Hallam Amos and Adam Warren (2).

However, they failed to build on their work and had to be content with a pair of bonus points thanks to a late score by Sarel Pretorius. That double provides some consolation but it was a game that has to be filed in the missed opportunity folder.

Yet again, there was much to be pleased about from the Dragons performance – and at least they gave it a crack with enterprising rugby – but defeat leaves them in familiar territory in the Guinness Pro12 after six rounds of action.

They sit 10th in the table with just the Italian pair beneath them and just like last season, and the season before, they now hope that the European Rugby Challenge Cup provides a release from league frustration.

The Dragons had headed to the Scarlets looking for a rare win against Welsh foes having endured a derby whitewash in 2015/16.

They had won in Llanelli just once – at Stradey Park in 2007 – and had a league record of played 44, won four away from Rodney Parade.

It isn’t just in Wales that the Dragons have struggled – they failed to win in all 12 games away from Newport last season.

That led to the bookies pricing the Dragons as big underdogs for the final game of what Pro12 chiefs had coined ‘Big Weekend’, giving them a headstart of 14 points in the handicap.

It took less than two minutes to see why with wing Steff Evans racing between hooker Rhys Buckley and opposite number Pat Howard to go over for a try that fly-half Rhys Patchell converted.

But to the Dragons’ credit they responded to dominate territory, eventually getting their reward with a superb finish by Wales wing Hallam Amos after 14 minutes.

Number eight Ed Jackson and wing Pat Howard combined impressively down the right and Amos came off his flank to carry hard, barrelling through the tackle of Patchell and flanker James Davies before reaching over.

Macleod converted from the touchline and hit another excellent kick in the 27th minute following a jackal by captain Lewis Evans, who was influential in the back row, to earn a deserved 10-7 lead.

It then got even better with Amos turning provider to set up Adam Warren against his former side, the centre gathering a sumptuous grubber through before sliding over down the left.

He was at it again down the same wing after 34 minutes for the Dragons’ third when replacement fly-half Angus O’Brien produced a pass as sublime as his forwards carrying was powerful.

Alas, the Dragons’ restart woes from this season continued and the Scarlets regathered for Wales full-back Liam Williams to dart over after James Davies had been dragged down just short.

Patchell converted to cut the gap to 20-14 and that was a slightly harsh half-time score after a fine first 40 by the Dragons, who saw O’Brien push a penalty with the clock in the red.

The Scarlets were on the front foot after the resumption and inched closer through the right boot of Patchell after 53 minutes.

The Dragons had to defend tenaciously, and slightly frantically, to limit their hosts to three but their line was soon crossed, with a rather predictable scorer.

The Scarlets opted to go for the corner rather than the posts only for the visitors to defend the drive well. Alas, the touchline was unmanned and the ever-alert former Dragon Jonathan Evans sniped over just nine minutes after coming off the bench.

The scrum-half’s score was added to by his half-back partner Patchell and at 24-20 down the Dragons needed to find inspiration from somewhere.

Instead it came from Wales centre Scott Williams, whose excellent assist put Steff Evans over for his second and the Scarlets’ try bonus.

Patchell’s fourth conversion twisted the knife to make it 31-20 and the Dragons had paid the price for playing very little rugby post half-time oranges.

Yet it was suddenly game back on with seven minutes left when captain Evans ripped the ball from Ken Owens and it fell to replacement scrum-half Sarel Pretorius, who scorched between prop Wyn Jones and Patchell to go over.

O’Brien converted and the gap was back to four, but despite home nerves suddenly creeping in the Dragons couldn’t steal an entertaining encounter.

Scarlets: L Williams, DTH van der Merwe, H Parkes (S Hughes 66), S Williams, S Evans, R Patchell (D Jones 73), A Davies (J Evans 52), W Jones (L Garrett 73), K Owens (captain), S Lee (W Kruger 52), L Rawlins, D Bulbring, A Shingler (J Barclay 31), J Davies, M Allen. Replacements: R Elias, L Garrett, W Kruger, R Bernardo, J Barclay, J Evans, D Jones, S Hughes.

Scorers: tries – S Evans (2), L Williams, J Evans; conversions – R Patchell (4); penalty – R Patchell

Dragons: T Prydie, P Howard, A Warren, J Dixon (S Beard 37-40, 53), H Amos, N Macleod (A O’Brien 33), C Davies (S Pretorius 66), S Hobbs (T Davies 49), R Buckley (D Harris 66), B Harris (L Fairbrother 66), N Crosswell (M Screech 40), C Hill (M Screech 18-24), L Evans (captain), N Cudd, E Jackson (O Griffiths 52).

Scorers: tries – H Amos, A Warren (2), S Pretorius; conversions – N Macleod, A O’Brien; penalty – A O’Brien

Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)

Argus star man: Lewis Evans