Bath rule at Kingston Park
Bath overturned a five-point deficit at half-time to beat Newcastle Falcons 17-13 at Kingston Park.
Last Updated: 07/03/10 6:15pm
Bath produced a second-half comeback to beat Newcastle Falcons 17-13 at Kingston Park.
Nick Abendanon and David Wilson touched down after the break as the visitors overturned a 10-5 deficit, although the match ended in controversy.
The referee blew for full-time with one minute and eight seconds still left on the scoreboard clock and Newcastle camped on the Bath line before the ball was turned over and booted dead.
The Newcastle players were furious and pointed to the clock but the referee still ushered both teams off the pitch.
The game had come to life in the 11th minute when Bath bagged the opening try.
Unwise
Alex Tait unwisely went for the interception and missed Michel Claassens' pass to Matt Banahan, who had an easy run in to the corner.
Newcastle's reply was almost immediate with Jimmy Gopperth stepping through and the Falcons piled in to win the breakdown for Rob Vickerman to score in the corner.
Gopperth's touchline conversion gave Newcastle a 7-5 lead after 14 minutes.
The Falcons could have scored two more in the next five minutes with a deft kick from Tane Tu'ipulotu almost leading to a try in the corner for Charlie Amesbury, and then James Hudson's charging run should have led to a try in the other corner, but the lock's pass was just behind Danny Williams.
Gopperth made it 10-5 with a 22nd-minute penalty but missed another good opportunity just over 10 minutes later.
Bath changed their whole front row at half-time, bringing on England trio Lee Mears, David Flatman and Wilson, but it was a barnstorming run by Banahan that put Bath on the front foot and led to a score in the corner for Abendanon.
Patient
Ollie Barkley and Gopperth then both missed penalties before Flatman was stopped on the line and Claassens was held up by some great Newcastle tackling.
However, Bath stayed patient and former Falcon David Wilson burrowed his way over for Bath's third try in the 64th minute, Barkley converting to make it 17-10.
Four minutes later Gopperth landed a penalty to give Newcastle hope at 17-13 but he missed another good chance three minutes later.
Danny Williams almost made a crucial interception with five minutes left on the clock and Newcastle hammered away in the closing moments, but Bath survived to take four points from the game.
