Meehan eyeing play-offs

Meehan: positive outlook

If we maintain our current form we are capable of making the play-offs.

Steve Meehan
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Bath head coach Steve Meehan believes his team are capable of making the Guinness Premiership play-offs after prevailing 17-13 away at Newcastle Falcons.

The West Country side recovered from 10-5 down at half-time to squeeze home for the win at Kingston Park and Meehan was impressed by the spirit on display.

"We're delighted to keep winning and to keep putting pressure on the team above us," Meehan said.

"If we maintain our current form we are capable of making the play-offs."

Bedrock

Meehan was able to bring on an all-England front row of Lee Mears, David Flatman and David Wilson at half-time, and he added: "The front-row changes worked and we're very happy they did.

"It gave us a bedrock to work from and we injected some pace into the game."

Newcastle will be disappointed at losing out on a bonus point, and now find themselves in real danger of being dragged into the relegation battle.

"We know the consequences of not winning," said Falcons director of rugby Steve Bates.

"You can end up a relegation battle, but you have to be positive and you can't worry about it.

"We can't do anything about what other teams are doing other than the game you're playing. You have to stick to your guns and hope you get a few breaks.

"Had we kicked a couple of penalties today we could have won the game and we pretty much did the work for Bath on two of their three tries.

"Their front-row changes at half-time was a significant factor and then we gave the ball away in midfield and set up the try for them which proved crucial.

"It's been a tough four weeks and the players need a rest to recharge their batteries and we will then look at what we need to do against Gloucester at home."

Controversy

The game ended in controversy with the referee blowing for time with one minute and eight seconds still left on the scoreboard clock as Newcastle pressed for a match-winning try.

The Falcons players were furious and pointed to the clock but the referee still ushered both teams off the pitch.

Both coaches played down the incident afterwards and revealed they were informed by the fourth official that the clock had been stopped for a minute in error and that the referee would blow the final whistle earlier than the official timing indicated.