Bath Rugby's record breaking 55-19 triumph over Falcons

Bath Rugby turned on the style at The Rec, demolishing Newcastle Falcons 55-19 and setting a new club record for most tries scored in a regular Premiership season.

It was an emphatic statement from the league leaders, who combined flair and precision to overpower a Falcons side still searching for their first win of the campaign.

The tone was set almost immediately. Within just two minutes of kick-off, Bath’s young fly-half Ciaran Donoghue sliced through the Falcons' defence for a stunning 60-metre solo try, which he then converted to hand Bath an early 7-0 lead.

However, Bath's momentum took a brief hit when Sam Underhill was shown a yellow card for a high tackle in the 10th minute. Falcons wasted no time in capitalizing on the numerical advantage.

From a well-executed catch-and-drive, Cameron Neild crashed over for Falcons’ first try of the match at the 15-minute mark, closing the gap to 7-5.

Even with a man down, Bath regrouped. Donoghue, pulling the strings expertly, slotted a penalty around the 30th minute to stretch the lead to 10-5.

Moments later, a brilliant line break by Louie Hennessey set up scrum-half Tom Carr-Smith, who finished neatly under the posts. Donoghue added the extras, giving Bath a 17-5 cushion.

Falcons clawed back some ground before halftime when winger Adam Radwan showed his pace to score a sharp try, cutting Bath’s lead to 17-12 at the break and ensuring the contest remained alive.

Bath came out firing after the interval and turned the game into a procession. Within minutes of the restart, winger Austin Emens burst through weak tackling to score Bath’s third try. The conversion pushed the score to 24-12.

Emens was at it again soon after, scoring his second try of the afternoon around the 50-minute mark, and with it, Bath etched a new club record for the most tries scored in a regular Premiership season.

The onslaught continued relentlessly. Alfie Barbeary added another try midway through the second half, charging over from short range, taking Bath past the 30-point mark. Joe Cokanasiga then powered over out wide to extend the lead to 43-12.

Newcastle's struggles compounded when Bath’s Will Muir scored yet another try after a superb offload from Carr-Smith, making it 50-12 with ten minutes still to play. Donoghue, near-flawless with the boot all afternoon, added five conversions in total.

The Falcons managed a late consolation when replacement hooker Jamie Blamire rumbled over from close range in the 75th minute, reducing the deficit slightly.

But fittingly, Bath had the final say, with a penalty try awarded in the dying stages after persistent scrum dominance near the Falcons' line, sealing a 55-19 rout.