Scarlets beat Newcastle 47-14 as Costelow injury clouds European opener

Scarlets opened their European Challenge Cup campaign with a 47-14 home victory over Newcastle Red Bulls, scoring seven tries in a match overshadowed by an injury to Sam Costelow. According to BBC Sport Wales, the fly-half left with a hamstring problem in the first half after scoring the opening try, giving Wales coach Steve Tandy a concern before his squad announcement.

Watch the highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A90zzfzMMiI

Costelow's departure came three days before Tandy was due to name his squad for next month's Autumn Nations Championship. Joe Hawkins replaced him and took over the kicking duties. The BBC report did not establish how serious the problem was or whether Costelow would be unavailable for Wales, leaving his international prospects uncertain despite the convincing club result.

Macs Page marked his 50th Scarlets appearance with two tries. Fletcher Anderson, Johnny Williams, Gareth Davies and Ellis Mee also scored as the hosts secured a bonus point. Newcastle's replies came late through Oliver Spencer and Ollie Leatherbarrow, with the visitors suffering a fourth consecutive defeat after three losses in the Prem.

Scarlets built a 26-0 half-time lead in front of 5,629 spectators. After Costelow broke through for the first try, Davies' cross-kick found Mee and helped create the opportunity for Anderson to score. Alex Groves then supplied Williams for the third, before a Mee break set up Davies for the fourth. Hawkins converted Davies' try after coming off the bench.

The hosts also welcomed back Wales forward Taine Plumtree for his first appearance of the season following shoulder surgery. Newcastle's task became harder when replacement prop Murray McCallum received a yellow card. Scarlets exploited the numerical advantage to send Mee over in the right corner, extending a lead that had already put them firmly in control.

Page then added his two scores. Breaks by Anderson and Joe Roberts preceded the first, which Page finished after gathering a grubber kick. Mee's inside kick created the second. Spencer and Leatherbarrow eventually got Newcastle on the scoreboard, but their late tries could not threaten the home side's advantage.

Scarlets now turn to a United Rugby Championship trip to South Africa for matches against Stormers and Bulls, with their next European action not until December. Newcastle's next Prem assignment is at home to Sale. For Scarlets, the immediate follow-up to an emphatic European start will also include monitoring Costelow's fitness before Wales finalise their selection.