Bath clip Falcons' wings

Bath ended Newcastle's six-match winning run and boosted their play-off credentials with a 36-25 win at the Recreation Ground on Saturday.

Butch James kicked five first half penalties before the World Cup winning fly-half was sin binned.

And subsequent tries from Joe Maddock (2) and Andy Beattie took the game away from the Falcons.

Bath went on the attack from the kick-off, obviously lifted by the return of skipper Michael Lipman after two months out with a head injury.

The hosts kept hold of possession and when Newcastle fell offside James kicked his first goal from under the sticks.

A confident Newcastle stepped up the pace and created an overlap for right wing Tim Visser, to cross in the corner on 11 minutes, converted from the touchline by May.

Intensity

Bath now began to up the intensity themselves and started forcing penalties from the visitors, enabling James to reduce the deficit to 7-6 with a 40 metre effort.

Approaching the half hour mark the South African hit the target with a penalty kick to regain the lead and added another five minutes later before slotting his fifth on 36 minutes.

Bath's try came as Nick Abendanon collected Alex Tait's kick downfield and Bath launched an attack down the right from long range.

Hooker Rob Hawkins broke with Maddock on his shoulder, the offload providing the little New Zealander with his 10th league try of the season.

James added the extras for Bath but May failed to close the gap at the other end on the stroke of half time.

The Newcastle fly-half made amends immediately after the restart though, reducing Bath's lead to 22-10 before converted Brent Wilson's try after the flanker bounced off Daniel Browne's tackle to cross in the 48th minute.

Interception

Bath replied from the scrum, Browne making a thrust for the line and Andy Beattie following up to score. James made it seven from seven with the conversion.

May added three more when James was sin-binned for a shoulder charge on Tu'ipulotu but during his absence Maddock snapped up an interception to score his second and Shaun Berne converted.

Bath went in search of the four-try bonus point but as the game loosened up it was Newcastle who had the last word with a try from Fenby.