The Scarlets secured a confidence-boosting 47-14 victory over Gallagher Premiership strugglers Newcastle Red Bulls in their Challenge Cup opener at Parc y Scarlets.
Macs Page crossed for two tries on his 50th appearance for the club, while Sam Costelow, Fletcher Anderson, Johnny Williams, Gareth Davies and Ellis Mee also scored. The only concern from the match was the departure of Costelow before half-time, seemingly with a hamstring injury.
Strong start and early tries
Much of the build-up centred on the reunion between former Scarlets, Wales and Lions half-backs Dwayne Peel and Stephen Jones. Peel, along with Scarlets director of rugby Nigel Davies, had seen their side lose two Welsh derbies before last weekend's win over Benetton.
The home side were rarely troubled, opening up a 26-0 lead at the break. Fly-half Costelow opened the scoring after 13 minutes, scything through the visitors' defence virtually untouched. In his first start of the season, No. 8 Fletcher Anderson extended the lead midway through the first half, forcing his way over after Ellis Mee had latched onto scrum-half Davies' kick.
Second-half scores and late consolation
Slick handling from Sam Lousi and Alex Groves put centre Williams over for the side's third. In his 19th season in professional rugby, Davies got on the scoresheet before half-time, finishing off a move after Mee created a linebreak when seemingly nothing was on.
After Newcastle prop Murray McCallum was sent to the sin-bin, the Scarlets created space out wide for Mee to go over for a well-deserved score. From the kick-off, Anderson put Joe Roberts through a gap with an offload. Recycling quickly, Hawkins dabbed a kick through for Page to latch onto, handing him a try on his 50th appearance.
The two wingers then combined to lovely effect, with Page's long pass putting Mee into space. The Wales international kicked back infield, with Page quickest to the ball to score his second. Newcastle scored late consolation tries through Oli Spencer and Ollie Leatherbarrow.
