Falcons hit late double to leave Bath in ruins
THESE are exciting times for Newcastle and this impressive triumph over play-off contenders Bath suggests 2017 could mark the start of some heady days in the North East.
They do not have the budget of the top-tier sides and that may ultimately count when it comes to lasting the distance, but Dean Richards’ troops are looking in fine fettle for a charge at the top-six.
Richards said: “The boys had belief, stuck at it and, after going 12 points down, just went for it. They showed a lot of guts and courage to come back, especially against a side like Bath.
“We don’t get the rub of the green in terms of the decisions because we’re not the vogue side, so as a consequence we have to work hard for the stuff that we get.”
Bath may well be one of the ‘vogue’ teams the Newcastle boss was alluding to, but, on the evidence of recent results, they have not looked anything like a Premiership-winning squad.
They were truly awful in the opening period, improved markedly after the interval, only to succumb to a late fightback in an encounter that came to life in the final 40 minutes.
Unlike last weekend’s thrilling first half between the Falcons and Wasps, this was far more agricultural by nature. Mistakes were aplenty and both sides’ continuity was lacking as an aerial bombardment rained down.
After Vereniki Goneva’s excellently taken score, it descended into a rather drab contest. Not that the hosts were complaining, having controlled field position through some neat Joel Hodgson kicks, as well as several Bath handling errors.
Anthony Watson, on his first start back from injury, looked especially rusty and it was only in the last five minutes of the opening period did the West Countrymen manage to create some concerted pressure.
It yielded a penalty and for the third time of asking George Ford was on target, slotting the three-pointer from in front of the posts.
Until that point, Ford had been well below par, so it was rather apt that he and Watson, another first half disappointment, should lead the turnaround.
The England stand-off scored their first try, taking Darren Allinson’s bullet pass and scampering over, before his international team-mate broke through and found Semesa Rokoduguni.
Bath were much improved and, although Hodgson reduced the arrears from the tee, Rokoduguni went over for the second time, with Watson again the man to provide the decisive off-load.
At 22-10, Todd Blackadder, Bath’s boss, was adamant that his side should have seen it out, but Newcastle showed commendable spirit and, via Mark Wilson’s close range surge, got back into the contest.
In previous years, the Tynesiders would have fallen short but they know the winning feeling these days and deservedly snatched the four points after Hodgson converted Ben Harris’ late try.