Bath 36 Newcastle 25

Bath Rugby did not get a bonus point but they halted Newcastle Falcon's Guinness Premiership revival with an 11-point victory at The Rec on Saturday.

Bath went ahead through the first of five first-half penalties from fly-half Butch James but found themselves behind when wing Tim Visser crossed for the first try of the period.

Visiting fly-half Tom May converted but their continued mistakes within range of Bath's South Africa star proved costly.

And Bath went into the break well ahead, similar to last weekend against Saracens where they led 16-0 at one stage, after wing Joe Maddock was put into the Newcastle scoring area after a dazzling run down the right from hooker Rob Hawkins.

But, in a repeat of last weekend's collapse, Newcastle hit back. May's first penalty of the match took the game to 22-10 before flanker Brent Wilson received the ball five metres from Bath's line and bounced off home number eight Dan Browne.

Matt Banahan almost got another Bath try when he received a pass wide out and was swamped by the Newcastle defence within reach of the line.

Eventually, flanker Andy Beattie grabbed the ball from a ruck right on the line and went over.

They lost James, though, on the hour when he was accused of a high tackle and Newcastle got to within one converted try of levelling the match when May booted a 25 metre penalty.

However, another try from Maddock finished Newcastle off and gave Bath a convincing victory.

Scorers:

Bath. Tries. J Maddock (2), A Beattie. Pens: B James (5). Cons: B James (2), S Berne.

Newcastle: Tries: T Visser, B Wilson, A Fenby. Pens: T May (2). Cons: T May (2).