Hooper: Players were magnificent in triumph
NEWCASTLE BATH RUGBY 19 38
BATH director of rugby Stuart Hooper hailed “emotional leader” Tom Dunn after the Blue, Black & Whites ran in six tries against Newcastle.
Sam Underhill, Zach Mercer, Henry Thomas, Jack Walker and England hooker Dunn (two) all crossed for the visitors to haul them level on points with the Falcons in the Gallagher Premiership table.
Trevor Davison, Tom Penny and a penalty try made the scoreline more respectable for the home side, but Bath, currently riding the crest of a wave after a recent resurgence, clinched a fourth win in five games.
Boss Hooper said afterwards: “We believe in this group of players and there were only one or two performances this season where we’ve not really been up to it.
“I know we were tenth in the table (before the game), but I’m not bothered by what it says as everything is so tight at the moment.
“However, the table doesn’t lie and that shows how many points we have and that’s what we deserve.
“Newcastle is never an easy place to come, so to go home with five points is fantastic.
“The players were magnificent. Tom Dunn is a real emotional leader for the team – he wears his heart on his sleeve and puts everything into every moment of the game.
“Ben Spencer played with a real competitive edge and enjoys the hostility. Sam Underhill was like a wrecking ball today as well.
“We’ve had three tough away games, so to get the points we have from them is a fantastic effort.”
Dean Richards was critical of his
Newcastle players for making more errors than in any other match this season, as well as a lack of discipline.
The Falcons had two of their matches in February postponed because of a coronavirus outbreak, but Richards insisted that was no excuse for a rusty display.
The Newcastle boss said: “It was error-strewn from the start and it just continued. It was probably the most errors we’ve made in any game this season. The penalties just kept on mounting throughout the game. It puts unnecessary pressure on the team and against a team like Bath, you will get punished. We weren’t at the races today.”
Newcastle: Penny; Tait, Wacokecoke, Burrell, Carreras; B Connon, Stuart; Davison, McGuigan, Tampin, Peterson, Barry, Graham, Van Der Walt, Chick. Replacements:
Vuna for Penny (58), Matavesi for B Connon (69), Schreuder for Stuart (55), Cooper for Davison (55), Maddison for McGuigan (55), Daniels for Tampin (55), Hardie for Graham (43), Robinson for Hardie (53). Scorers – Tries: Davison, Penny, Daniels. Cons: B Connon 2.
Sin Bin: Robinson (62).
Bath: De Glanville; Cokanasiga, Joseph, Matavesi, McConnochie; T Schoeman, B Spencer; J Schoeman, Dunn, Thomas, McNally, Stooke, Reid, Underhill, Mercer. Replacements: Rokoduguni for McConnochie (62), Clark for T Schoeman (35), Fox for B Spencer (69), Cordwell for J Schoeman (71), Walker for Dunn (57), Judge for Thomas (57), Staddon for Stooke (69), Ellis for Underhill (62). Scorers – Tries: Underhill, Mercer, Dunn 2, Thomas, Walker. Cons: T Schoeman 2, B Spencer 2.
Referee: Ian Tempest (RFU).
Hartpury fell to their first defeat of the new GKIPA Championship season as hosts Bedford triumphed 33-25 on Friday night.
The Gloucestershire side were a little flattered by the scoreline given two of their three tries arrived in the final ten minutes of the game.
Ben Foley scored a first-half try for the Red & Blacks, but touchdowns from Nick Selway and Aled Ward came too late in the day.
Elsewhere, Saracens bounced back from their opening day defeat with a 45-13 home victory over Jersey Reds.