By Ridley Hall
April 26 2002

Hard man Richard Arnold has been dropped - despite being star man for the past few games. Arnie will be on the bench against Bath [Kingston Park Sunday 2.30] because he gave away too many penalties against Tigers last weekend. He also got sin binned.

When Andrew and Bates poured over the match statistics they put down 15 lost points to Arnie's aggression and that's why Rob Devonshire will be at openside against struggling Bath [yes I still like saying that.]

And just to send a clear message to the rest of the troops Rob has slapped a two week ban on Thumper Thompson's son Matt for fighting in the Under 21 game against Bristol. That means he won't be on the bench on Sunday.

So we know what Thumper Junior and Arnie have done ... what has Andrew Mower done? He's still not in the team and what's the betting he won't be on the bench when Rob announces it on Sunday. If you have a theory please post on the messsage board because I haven't got a clue. perhaps it was something he has said like "Can I leave at the end of the season, please?"

But back to who is playing in a game we really muts win and try and get five points from. Bath are scrapping for their prode and have a side paxcked with talent which must click one day. We'll be facing them with Liam Botham at full back. He's done a fair job in the 15 shirt but one does worry about his lack of pace if the likes of Balshaw and Tindall make a break.

Inga starts on the wing in place of the uneasy looking Gareth MacLure but he's the only one of the departing Borderers to get a start. Pat Lam will be on the bench to shore up a young and relatively inexperienced back row in which Epi Taione is looking more and more comfortable as the weeks go by.

I would have preferred to see Arnie in there. The opposition don't like playing against him and this game could well be a battle. Still we'll probably see him second half.

Falcons: Botham, Tuigamala, Noon, May, Stephenson, Wilkinson [capt[, Charlton, Ward, Brotherstone, Hurter, Vyvyan, Grimes, Taione, Devonshire, Dunbar.

Probable reps: Lam, Arnold, Makin, MacLure, Weir, Peel, Richardson.

Bath squad: Thirlby, Danielli, Tindall, , Barkley, Voyce, Balshaw, Cooper, Barnes, Regan, Emms, Borthwick, Grewcock, Thomas, Scaysbrook, Lyle, Long, Mears, Mallett, Gatley, Thomas, Dalzel, Crockett, Cox, Bellinger.