Bath claim bonus-point win at Falcons to go second

Gallagher Premiership

Newcastle: (10) 17

Tries: Blamire (2) Stuart Cons: Connon

Bath: (28) 28

Tries: Du Toit, Spencer, Cokanasiga, Gallagher Cons: Russell (4)

Bath level on points with Northampton Saints atop the Premiership with a comfortable 28-17 bonus-point win over Newcastle Falcons at Kingston Park.

A glut of tries from the visitors secured the victory in the first half, with Thomas Du Toit, Ben Spencer, Joe Cokanasiga and Matt Gallagher on the scoresheet.

Jamie Blamire's two tries kept Newcastle in it, before Sam Stuart's converted effort reduced the difference to two scores in the second half.

Ultimately, defeat for Newcastle means their wait for a league win since March 2023 goes on and they stay rooted to the bottom of the table.

It was a fast start by Bath who went over for the first time inside five minutes. Prop Du Toit scooped the ball up before forcing his way in. Finn Russell added the conversion.

Nine minutes later, Bath scored again. This time, it needed checking. Du Toit fell short of the line, but the ball found Spencer. The officials looked to see if there was a knock-on in the build-up, but the try stood and was converted from close range.

Bath looked to be running away with it when Cokanasiga powered over in the right corner on 28 minutes, before another Russell conversion.

The Falcons got on the board when Blamire forced himself over the line following a superb maul near the corner, but Brett Connon's conversion fell just short.

Gallagher scythed through the Newcastle defence on 38 minutes and secured a bonus point with another converted try. But Blamire ended the half with his second, with another driving maul. Again, Connon failed to convert.

The frenetic pace to the match did not cease after the break; Newcastle were not letting go of the slim chance of a first victory in over a year, and their scrum, which had been dominant all night, maintained their foothold in the game.

Stuart's try was another strong drive as Newcastle made their superior territory and possession count.

In truth, Bath's discipline gave Newcastle hope of a comeback as the latter stages were littered with conceded penalties, but they managed to hold on for the win.

Newcastle: Brocklebank, Blamire, Bello, Cardall, De Chaves, Cross, Pepper, Chick (c), Brown, Radwan, Moroni, Hutchison, Redshaw, Connon, Stuart.

Replacements: Palframan, Byrne, Dormer, Hawkins, Lockwood, Spencer, Elliott, Jennings.

Bath: Obano, Dunn, Du Toit, Roux, Ewels, Hill, Underhill, Barbeary, Spencer (c), Russell, Muir, Redpath, Lawrence, Cokanasiga, Gallagher.

Replacements: Bayliss, Annett, Stuart, Schoeman, Schreuder, Bailey, Reid, Du Plessis.

Referee: Tom Foley.