Newcastle's Mike McCarthy runs into Bath resistance

Newcastle (6) 14
Tries: Shaw
Pens: Burke (2)
Drops: May

David Barnes' 70th-minute try killed off a Newcastle fightback and ensured Bath avoided their worst home run for 20 years at the Recreation Ground.

Bath had lost their last two home games but prop Barnes was carried over after a maul to give them their first league win in five Premiership matches.

Olly Barkley scored 15 points but three penalty misses almost cost Bath in an error-strewn game.

Barkley's first-half touchdown had been matched by Joe Shaw's 64th-minute try.

"Considering the amount of internationals we had unavailable - basically the whole pack - I took a lot of pride in the performance.

"I've got the highest admiration for our Premiership debutants David Ward, Laurence Ovens and ex-rugby league star Chev Walker, because they're under a lot of pressure.

"Walker is just a class act. He's one of those guys who has a lot of time when he gets the ball. That's the sign of a good player. I think he's an outstanding acquisition for the club."

"I thought my players were incredibly poor, probably a bit worse than Bath, who edged a tight, average game.

"I thought it was a poor game obviously not helped by the conditions, but they weren't that bad.

"Bath were as weak as you'd ever get them. We should have beaten that Bath side."

606 DEBATE: Give your thoughts on the game

Bath: Perry; Maddock, Barkley, Fuimaono-Sapolu, Walker; Berne, Walshe; Barnes, Ward, Ovens, Short, Grewcock, Beattie, Scaysbrook, Feaunati.
Replacements: Brooker, Parks, Louw, Faamatuainu, Travagli, Stephenson, Abendanon.

Newcastle: Burke; May, Hoyle, Mayerhofler, Rudd; Crichton, Dickson; McDonnell, Long, D Wilson, Perry, Oakes, Parling, Woods, McCarthy.
Replacements: Morris, Thompson, B Wilson, Winter, Shaw, Grindal, Dillon.