This game saw the welcome return of Bath flyer, Brendan Daniel, though his shoulders must have slumped at first sight of the wind and rain: not the the best conditions for a returning winger, particularly one with a poor injury record.

The game got off to a nightmare start for Bath as the Falcons scored within moments of the start. The visitors immediately suffered from the poor weather conditions as they dropped the ball from the kick-off and it was picked up by the Falcons giving Tom May a scoring opportunity within the first minute. A shock score for the visitors, with it coming so early in the match that many of the spectators were still getting to their seats as May scored.

However the Bath forwards immediately started to dominate their opponents and an early Bath penalty in front of the Newcastle posts saw Steve Borthwick opt for scrums as opposed to a kick at goal. This didn't pay off as the home side stole the ball and was perhaps a poor decision when the conditions were likely to restrict scoring opportunities. This decision must have been haunting Stevie B as Newcastle put on a late surge to almost grab an unlikely win.

Newcastle nearly scored their second try after 25 minutes with what was, in effect, their second attack of the match but a foot in touch right by the try line saved Bath from going 10-0 down.

Bath were awarded a penalty just before half-time and Chris Malone was asked to kick for goal. Malone kicked the ball with a low trajectory to keep it out of the wind and it just crawled over the cross-bar to make the score 5-3. Newcastle were awarded a penalty 3 minutes into injury time but Walder missed the kick: his third miss of the half which would have completely changed the match. Half time saw the score at 5-3 in a far from exciting match.

Bath had a chance to take the lead after 50 minutes with a difficult kick at goal but Malone was unable to beat the appalling weather conditions. But two minutes later Malone was successful, taking Bath in to a 5-6 lead. After Walder's failures with goal kicking, Matt Burke had a go after 59 minutes but he too missed the penalty attempt.

Bath stretched their lead to 5-9 with a Malone drop-goal, he had been set up by a Steve Borthwick led forwards drive up the park. Newcastle had a great opportunity to score their second try on the 80 minute mark after a penalty line-out on the Bath 5 metre line saw them catch and drive but once again the conditions made things difficult and a dropped ball one metre from scoring gave Bath the opportunity to clear their lines.

Bath held on to win a crucial game. Job done, well done boys!

Newcastle 5-9 Bath Tries: May Pens: Malone 2 DG: Malone

Bath Rugby: 15 Matt Perry, 14 Steve Booth,13 Andy Williams, 12 Olly Barkley, 11 Brendon Daniel, 10 Chris Malone, 9 Martyn Wood, 1 Matt Stevens, 2 Lee Mears, 3 Duncan Bell, 4 Steve Borthwick (capt), 5 Danny Grewcock, 6 Gareth Delve, 7 James Scaysbrook, 8 Zak Feaunati

Replacements: 16 Jonathan Humphreys, 17 David Barnes, 18 Geraint Lewis, 19 Rob Fidler, 20 Ramiro Pez, 21 Nick Walshe, 22 Pete Murchie

Newcastle Falcons:15 Michael Stephenson, 14 Tom May, 13 Jamie Noon, 12 Mark Mayerhofler, 11 Ollie Phillips, 10 Dave Walder, 9 Hall Charlton, 1 Ian Peel (capt), 2 Andy Long, 3 Galo Alvarez Quinones, 4 Geoff Parling, 5 Stuart Grimes, 6 Mike McCarthy, 7 Cory Harris, 8 Phil Dowson.

Replacements: 16 David Wilson, 17 Micky Ward, 18 Matt Thompson, 19 Epi Taione, 20 Matt Burke, 21 James Grindal, 22 Matthew Tait.

Ref - Chris White

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