Dragons (9) 9
Pens: Connor (2) DG: Connor
Scarlets (8) 14
Try: Priestland Pens: S Jones (2), Priestland
The Scarlets weathered a remarkable late Dragons assault to end the home side's 100% Rodney Parade record.
Jon Davies set up a fine try for Rhys Priestland, but Shaun Connor's boot edged Dragons to a 9-8 half-time lead.
Stephen Jones kicked Scarlets ahead before going off with a shoulder injury that will worry Wales.
Priestland kicked a goal, but his late error gave Dragons six final minutes on Scarlets' line, the visitors' defence holding through 32 phases of play.
The victory was the Scarlets' first on the road in the Magners League this season, but they remain the bottom Welsh region and in danger of missing out on Heineken Cup qualification.
Jones reveals shoulder injury
Nigel Davies' under-fire side were scrappy in the opening exchanges, teenage scrum-half Gareth Davies looking nervous on his first start as his poor pass put the visitors under pressure.
Jon Davies got the Llanelli-based region moving, though, freeing Andy Fenby who crossed the line but was denied a try when a superb Matthew Watkins tackle knocked the ball from his grasp.
Connor opened the scoring with a drop-goal, the fly-half starting ahead of James Arlidge because of his superior kicking.
The Scarlets began to move the ball confidently, and the impressive Davies scythed the defence apart from halfway, cutting between Watkins and Tom Riley.
The Wales centre off-loaded to Priestland who cantered to the try line, Stephen Jones failing to convert.
Priestland hails Scarlets defence
Connor edged the home side back in front with a penalty, and exchanged three-pointers with Jones to leave the Dragons ahead at the break.
Jones edged his side back in front with a penalty, but missed a simple chance to extend the lead before leaving the field with a troubling shoulder injury he had picked up in the first half.
The tense exchanges continued, Connor failing with a difficult penalty attempt as the game entered the final 15 minutes, then Ali McKenzie knocking on to end a promising attack started by a superb Aled Brew kick and catch.
Priestland landed a superb pressure penalty from the touchline to stretch the lead to five points with nine minutes left.
The youngster, who had moved from full-back to fly-half when Jones left the field, was named as man-of-the-match.
But almost immediately he made a hash of a clearance kick from his 22, gifting the Dragons a five-metre line-out as the game entered its final play.
Turner rues Dragons errors
Paul Turner's men won the ball and barreled up to the Scarlets line, where they encamped for the next six minutes.
But they displayed the lack of vision and inventiveness that had blighted their game, and when the Scarlets at last held up the attack over the line the final whistle was blown.
The defeat followed on from three heavy losses - twice against Biarritz and once against the Blues - giving the Rodney Parade faithful an uncomfortable end to 2009 in a season that started so promisingly.
Dragons coach Paul Turner:
"It was very disappointing that we didn't score, but we just made too many errors.
Davies praises Scarlets discipline
"I thought that we should have had a couple more penalties.
"When they took Stephen Jones off they shut up shop.
"I can't fault the effort, but at the top level you have to cut down the errors. You have to win your home games."
Scarlets coach Nigel Davies:
"We were desperate for the win and that was phenomenal defence, the boys were very focused.
"We showed our determination and as a group we will take a lot out of that for the rest of the season.
"It was important that we showed we can go away from home and win."
Dragons: Tovey, Brew, Riley, Watkins, Fussell, Connor, Lee, Gustafson, Willis, Palmer, Sidoli, Charteris, MacDonald, L. Evans, G. Thomas.
Replacements: M. Thomas for Tovey (65), Williams for Lee (40), S. Jones for Willis (56), McKenzie for L. Evans (62). Not Used: A. Jones, Webb, Harries.
Scarlets: Priestlend, L. Williams, Lamont, J. Davies, Fenby, S. Jones, G. Davies, John, Owen, Manu, Reed, Day, McCusker, Lyons, Edwards.
Replacements: Evans for S. Jones (53), Pugh for Edwards (60). Not Used: Corsi, Phillips, Welch, Maule, Higgitt.
Att: 6,429
Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)
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