Bath (22) 36
Tries: Maddock 2, Beattie Cons: James 2, Berne Pens: James 5

Newcastle (7) 25
Tries: Visser, Wilson, Fenby Cons: May 2 Pens: May 2

Newcastle's six-match unbeaten run came to an end at The Rec thanks to two tries from Bath's Joe Maddock.

Tim Visser claimed the first try but five Butch James kicks put Bath on top.

Maddock scored his first before the break, soon cancelled out by Brent Wilson's score, only for Andy Beattie to restore Bath's advantage.

Despite losing James to a yellow card, Bath went further ahead through Maddock although Newcastle's Andrew Fenby crossed for a Falcons consolation.

Bath head coach Steve Meehan:

"The first objective in any game is to win but we had some opportunities to get the bonus point for a fourth try.

"It will be interesting to see how things pan out at the top of the Premiership over the next few weeks.

"You are bound to get some odd results - I hope ours was that defeat at Saracens last weekend."

Newcastle director of rugby Steve Bates:

"Our problems started with a few individual errors, which you can't afford to away from home. We only have ourselves to blame.

"But to come here and score three tries against Bath, who have been playing some good rugby this season, is quite pleasing.

"We've got to keep positive and this was perhaps something of a 'wake-up' - a reminder that we have to work hard and keep our concentration."

Bath: Abendanon; Maddock, Crockett, Berne, Banahan; James, Bemand, Flatman, Hawkins, Bell, Harrison, Hooper, Beattie, Lipman, Browne.
Replacements: Stephenson for Maddock (74), Cheeseman for Berne (73), Baxter for Bemand (76), Jarvis for Flatman (73), Lilley for Hawkins (79), Faamatuainu for Harrison (73), Scaysbrook for Lipman (73).

Newcastle: A Tait; Visser, Noon, Tu'ipulotu, Fenby; May, Young; Golding, Vickers, Hayman, Swinson, Parling, Dowson, B Wilson, Balding.
Replacements: Thompson for Visser (62), Charlton for Young (67), Ward for Golding (61), Sorenson for Parling (49), Winter for Balding (55).
Not Used: Davey, Jones.

Att: 10,600

Ref: Andrew Small (RFU).

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