Bath run in eight tries to beat Newcastle 50-14
Ben Spencer was one of the try scorer for Bath
©PA
Newcastle Falcons 14-50 Bath Rugby,
Bath Rugby delivered a dominant away performance to defeat Newcastle Falcons 50-14, collecting a try-bonus point to remain top of the Gallagher Premiership table at Christmas.
A powerful second-half display proved decisive as the visitors pulled clear after a competitive opening period.
Newcastle made the brighter start and struck inside three minutes when back-rower Ollie Leatherbarrow broke through the Bath defence to open the scoring. Bath responded quickly. From a driving lineout on 11 minutes, hooker Dan Frost crashed over to register the visitors’ first try.
Frost was at the heart of Bath’s attack and crossed again on 22 minutes, slicing through the defence to score his second of the afternoon. Newcastle replied soon after, with Amanaki Mafi peeling off a driving maul to restore the hosts’ lead at 14-12 midway through the half.
Bath regained control before the break. Sustained pressure told as prop Archie Griffin powered over on 31 minutes, sending the visitors into half-time with a 19-14 advantage.
Bath emerged with clear intent after the interval and extended their lead when replacement prop Francois van Wyk forced his way over from close range. With momentum firmly on their side and a numerical advantage, the visitors struck again as Will Butt finished from a quick tap penalty to make it five tries.
As the tempo increased, Bath’s depth began to show. Tom de Glanville finished smartly in the corner following multiple phases, before Ben Spencer raced clear from deep inside Bath’s half straight from the restart to add a seventh try making it 14-43.
The scoring was completed late on when Ted Hill crossed from close range, capping a ruthless second-half display. Bath’s eight-try haul sealed a comprehensive 50-14 victory and underlined their strong position heading into the festive period.
Newcastle: Grayson, Spencer, Hearle, Arnold, Obatoyinbo, Connon, Benitez Cruz; Brocklebank, McGuigan (c), McCallum, Usher, de Chaves, Leatherbarrow, Christie, Mafi.
Reserves: Fletcher, Hancock, Palframan, Baker, Gordon, Elliott, Chamberlain, Clark.
Bath: van Wyk, Frost, Griffin, Richards, Molony, Bayliss, Staddon, Reid (c), Carr-Smith, Carreras, Hennessey, Butt, Harris, Cokanasiga, de Glanville.
Reserves: Dunn, Obano, du Toit, Hill, Underhill, Spencer, Redpath, Barbeary.
