SCARLETS: Macs Page marks 50th appearance with a double as Scarlets run riot against Stephen Jones’ Newcastle

Macs Page marked his 50th appearance with two tries, as the Scarlets opened their Challenge Cup campaign with a 47-14 bonus-point win over Newcastle Red Bulls at Parc y Scarlets.

It was an unhappy return for former Scarlets fly-half Stephen Jones, whose Newcastle side have now lost four games in a row.

It was also a second straight win for the Scarlets, a week after their 27-26 comeback win over Benetton.

Four first-half tries for a 26-0 lead

The hosts were in control from early on, and their quick, accurate handling soon opened up the Newcastle defence.

Fly-half Sam Costelow scored first, on 12 minutes. Number eight Fletcher Anderson finished clinically less than ten minutes later.

Centre Johnny Williams and scrum-half Gareth Davies also went over before the break, as Newcastle’s defence was caught out of line, to make it 26-0 at half-time.

Anderson and Davies were both rewarded with starts after turning the Benetton game from the bench.

Man of the match Ellis Mee and a Macs Page double kill off the game

The Scarlets kept up the pressure after the restart. Man of the match Ellis Mee and fellow wing Macs Page scored within two minutes of each other to put the game beyond Newcastle.

Page was making his 50th Scarlets appearance, the club said before the game.

The pain kept on coming for Newcastle. Page dived over for his second try on 65 minutes, quickest to the loose ball after a break down the right and a diagonal kick infield.

Costelow and replacement Joe Hawkins kicked six conversions between them.

Under this season’s new Challenge Cup rules, a try bonus point needs at least three more tries than the opposition. The Scarlets scored seven tries to Newcastle’s two.

Two late tries for Newcastle

The Scarlets defence shut Newcastle down out wide for long spells.

The visitors did get two tries late on, through Oliver Spencer and Ollie Leatherbarrow, as the game opened up.

Stephen Jones’ unhappy return to Parc y Scarlets

It was a tough night for Jones, now Newcastle’s head coach, back at the club where he made his name.

Newcastle have now lost all four of their games this season, after three defeats in the Prem.

Stormers and Bulls next in South Africa

Back-to-back wins will send the Scarlets to South Africa full of confidence.

They face the Stormers on 24 October and the Bulls on 31 October in the United Rugby Championship.

Scarlets team v Newcastle Red Bulls

Scarlets: 15 Blair Murray; 14 Ellis Mee, 13 Joe Roberts, 12 Johnny Williams, 11 Macs Page; 10 Sam Costelow, 9 Gareth Davies; 1 Kemsley Mathias, 2 John McKee, 3 Harri O’Connor, 4 Harvey Cuckson, 5 Alex Groves, 6 Sam Lousi, 7 Josh Macleod (capt), 8 Fletcher Anderson.

Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Sam O’Connor, 18 Gabe Hawley, 19 Taine Plumtree, 20 Dan Davis, 21 Dane Blacker, 22 Joe Hawkins, 23 Eddie James.