Bath Rugby triumphs over Newcastle Falcons in Premiership Cup semi-finals

Newcastle Falcons 29-41 Bath Rugby, Kingston Park

In a high-intensity Premiership Cup semi-final, Bath Rugby staged a strong comeback to defeat Newcastle Falcons 41-29 at Kingston Park.

The match was filled with drama, momentum swings, and outstanding individual performances as both teams fought for a place in the final.

The home side began with energy and nearly secured a try in the opening minutes through Alex Hearle, whose break down the right set up a promising sequence.

However, their attempt was denied by a knock-on at the try line. Moments later, Brett Connon delivered a well-placed cross-field kick, allowing Hearle to collect and touch down in the right corner, putting Newcastle in the lead.

Connon had an opportunity to extend the advantage with a long-range penalty, but his attempt narrowly missed the target. He made amends soon after, converting a close-range penalty to push the Falcons’ lead to 8-0 as Bath struggled with defensive discipline.

The visitors responded quickly, with Ethan Staddon finishing off a well-worked move in the right corner. Ciaran Donoghue added the conversion, narrowing the gap to a single point.

Bath then capitalized on an attacking advantage when Alfie Barbeary powered over for an unconverted try, handing them the lead for the first time in the game.

As the first half progressed, Bath extended their advantage. Austin Emens reacted swiftly to a loose ball following a grubber kick and grounded it in the in-goal area.

With Donoghue’s successful conversion, Bath held a commanding 19-8 lead. Newcastle refused to back down, responding just before the break through Murray McCallum, who forced his way over from close range. Connon converted, reducing the deficit to 19-15 at halftime.

The second half saw Newcastle regain the lead just minutes after the restart. Ben Stevenson latched onto an inside pass and sprinted down the left, finishing off a well-executed move set up by Connon. The conversion pushed the Falcons ahead 22-19.

Stevenson then delivered a moment of brilliance, launching an up-and-under from deep inside his half, collecting it in full stride, and racing past defenders to score a stunning individual try. With the conversion successful, Newcastle surged to a 29-19 lead, appearing to take control of the game.

Bath, however, responded with determination. Emens notched his second try of the match after collecting an offload five meters from the line. Donoghue converted to close the gap to 29-26.

The visitors continued their comeback when the TMO awarded a try to Francois van Wyk, who finished off a pick-and-go near the right corner, putting Bath back in front.

As the clock wound down, Staddon sealed Bath’s place in the final with his second try, sprinting in six minutes from time. This final score put the result beyond doubt, as Bath claimed a hard-fought 41-29 victory.