Scarlets got off to a winning start in the Champions Cup with a 28-11 victory over Sale Sharks at Parc y Scarlets.
Wales scrum-half Gareth Davies and Canada wing DTH van der Merwe scored first-half tries but Van der Merwe's second was the only score of a poor second period.
Rhys Patchell's 13 points with the boot helped the Scarlets keep control.
Hooker Neil Briggs got the visitors' only try in the first period with Dan Mugford landing two penalties.
In a tough group also featuring Toulon and Saracens, the Scarlets overcame memories of a Champions Cup whitewash in 2015-16.
Mugford kicked Sale into a third-minute lead, but Scarlets responded with 16 unanswered points.
Davies charged down Mugford's attempted clearance and gathered to score, Patchell converting and kicking three penalties.
The Scarlets' line-out problems were costing them valuable ground, but Sale had no such trouble as Briggs was driven over after 25 minutes.
However. it came as no surprise when the hosts extended their lead following more excellent work from Wales number nine Davies, Patchell's cross-kick perfectly judged for Van der Merwe to collect and score with Patchell converting.
A Mugford penalty made it 21-11 at the break, but neither side could take a firm grip on the second half.
Van der Merwe's second try on 56 minutes was the only score of the second half as he skated round the outside to finish well from close quarters, Patchell converting from wide out.
But a series of other chances went begging and the Scarlets could not add the fourth try for a bonus point.
Any hopes the visitors had of a second-half comeback were frustrated by yellow cards to forwards Ross Harrison and Andrei Ostrikov for illegal tackles.
Round two sees Sale host Toulon on Friday 21 October while Scarlets travel to Allianz Park to play Saracens on Saturday 22 October.
BBC
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