MATCH SUMMARY Newcastle 16 (16) Tries: Burke Cons: Burke Pens: Burke 2 Drops: Walder Bath 27 (8) Tries: Stevens, Wood, Feaunati, Scaysbrook Cons: Barkley 2 Pens: Barkley

An Olly Barkley penalty gave Bath the lead before Newcastle hit back with two penalties and a try from Matt Burke and a David Walder drop goal.

A Matt Stevens try in first-half injury time reduced the deficit to 16-8 while Bath's Martyn Wood touched down shortly after the restart.

Zak Feaunati's try gave Bath the lead before James Scaysbrook sealed things.

After the game, Newcastle director of rugby Rob Andrew said his side are lacking consistency.

Andrew said: "If you look at our performances so far we've been a real Jekyll and Hyde outfit, which is very frustrating as a manager.

"When we've been good we've been very good and when we've been bad we've been downright awful.

"You can't get away with that. If they thought the job was done at 16-3 they were soon taught otherwise."

Meanwhile, Bath coach John Connolly admitted his relief after the win.

Connolly said: "We needed it, there's no doubt. We feel a lot better about ourselves and it gives us confidence that what we are doing is right.

"People can jump on you very quickly. You kick a couple of goals and win and everything is alright; you don't kick them and lose and it's a crisis.

"Obviously you feel better about yourself when you've won, but other than that there is no difference."

Newcastle: Burke; Elliott, Noon, Mayerhofler, Tait; Walder, Charlton; Ward, Long, Morris; Perry, Parling; Finegan, Harris, Charvis (capt).
Replacements: Flood for Walder (74), Grindal for Charlton (58), Wilson for Ward (48), Thompson for Long (58), Paoletti for Morris (28), McCarthy for Finegan (74), Woods for Harris (48).

Bath: Perry; Bory, Cheeseman, Barkley, Higgins; Dunne, Wood; Barnes, Mears, Stevens; Borthwick, Grewcock; Beattie, Scaysbrook, Feaunati.
Replacements: Davis for Dunne (29), Bell for Barnes (41). Not Used: Dixon, Delve, Hudson, Walshe, Finau.

Att: 6,869

Referee: Ashley Rowden (RFU).