It was too easy for the Welsh side, who claimed the required four tries before half-time with number eight Scott Quinnell in irresistible form.

He crossed for two of the first-half tries and created another, but was then yellow-carded early in the second half and played no further park.

The Borders showed plenty of stubborn resistance early on at Stradey Park, but the floodgates opened up in the second half and the Scots remained without a point in their debut Heineken Cup season.

The Scarlets had been forced into a late change prior to kick off with Gareth Bowen coming in for Wales number 10 Stephen Jones.

Bowen landed the game’s first point with a ninth-minute penalty, but the home side were finding the visitors tough to break down early on until Quinnell took charge.

The influential number eight powered over from a five-yard scrum after 24 minutes, then crossed in similar fashion soon after with Borders flanker Dan Kane in the sinbin.

Bowen missed with both conversions, but it was tries Llanelli were after.

The third came after 38 minutes, again through the forwards. This time Quinnell was provider, driving through a close-range line-out to feed prop John Davies on his shoulder.

The fourth and crucial bonus try for the bonus point was Llanelli’s before half-time.

Winger Mark Jones raced in unopposed with virtually his first touch of the game. Bowen this time had little problem with the conversion to make it 25-0 at the break.

The second half started with Quinnell being shown the yellow card for hands in a ruck and Borders were able to claim their first score through captain Kevin Utterson after a rare period of pressure.

However, that was as good as it got for the visitors. Bowen raced through some fragile defence for Llanelli’s fifth try of the night after 60 minutes.

Further tries followed at regular intervals for replacement hooker Aled Gravelle, wing Salesi Finau, and centre Matthew Watkins as the Borders defence disintegrated late on.