The west Walians got their European campaign off to a perfect start with a 47-14 win in Llanelli

The Scarlets were handed a confidence boost as they hammered Gallagher Prem strugglers Newcastle Red Bulls in their Challenge Cup opener, winning 47-14 at Parc y Scarlets.

Macs Page crossed for two tries on his 50th appearance for the club, just days before Steve Tandy names his Wales autumn squad, while Sam Costelow, Fletcher Anderson, Johnny Williams, Gareth Davies and Ellis Mee all got on the scoresheet.

The only concern was the departure of Costelow before half-time, seemingly with a hamstring injury.

Much of the build-up to the match centred around the reunion between former Scarlets, Wales and Lions half-backs Dwayne Peel and Stephen Jones.

Peel, along with Scarlets director of rugby Nigel Davies, won't have been happy with the west Walians' start to the season - having lost two Welsh derbies before last weekend's much-needed win over Benetton.

Having named a strong team for the visit of the winless English outfit, this was a good confidence boost for the Scarlets.

The home side were rarely troubled at Parc y Scarlets, 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 Scarlets' lead midway through the first-half - forcing his way over after Ellis Mee had latched onto scrum-half Davies' kick.

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.

The Scarlets took a little while to get started again in the second-half.

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.

Typically, their next try came almost immediately. 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 for the Scarlets.

The two wingers then combined to lovely effect, with Page' 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.