NEWCASTLE Falcons plunged deeper into relegation trouble when they completed a hat-trick of defeats against fellow strugglers yesterday.

They were dreadful in the first half hour, but from 24-6 down they showed plenty of spirit and when they got the gap down to four points with 20 minutes left they looked likely winners.

But Bath were able to bring on Danny Grewcock, flown up from England bench duties, and showed they had the character to dig deep after playing wonderfully fluent rugby in the first 30 minutes.

Level on points with the Falcons at the start of the match, Bath were sharp and incisive and Newcastle were flattered when Earl Va'a landed two penalties just before half-time to reduce the interval deficit to 12 points.

Newcastle's defensive organisation improved and after Va'a kicked another penalty they were threatening to transform the game when good handling sent full back Joe Shaw over in the left corner.

But there was no further score in the last 20 minutes and what should have been a big occasion with the new West Stand in use for the first time left most of the 4,532 crowd feeling flat.

Newcastle's Director of Rugby, Rob Andrew, said: "We gifted them a lot of points in the first half. The game had hardly started when they scored a very soft try and that has a big impact on players' confidence when things have not been going well.

"We are missing key men who lead the way forward, but it was a credit to the players they way they responded in the second half and on another day we might have pulled the game out of the fire.

"We struggled at the line-out, where Bath are one of the best defensive sides in the country. They just had a bit more experience on the field than we did."

The fact is that other sides have greater depth and are better able to absorb the loss of international players than the Falcons.

Stuart Grimes and Steve Brotherstone were missed just as much as Jonny Wilkinson in the first half as Newcastle struggled to win possession.

Epi Taione, restored to the back row, was anonymous in the first half and hooker Nick Makin's throwing didn't help the line-out struggles. He was replaced at half-time by Matt Thompson, and Andrew will be stepping up his search for a hooker this week.

On the credit side, Shaw did well on his return after injury and Michael Stephenson often injected much-needed pace into the Falcons' attacks.

Bath's scrum half Andy Williams, making his first appearance since knee surgery in February, made a sniping break from a line-out 25 metres out to race over untouched after two minutes.

Matt Perry made a hash of the conversion, but he landed two penalties before Bath withdrew Mike Catt, who is still not fully fit, after 15 minutes, sending on Chris Malone to take over fly half and goal-kicking duties.

Malone also kicked two penalties and converted from the right touchline after good handling sent Tom Voyce over.

Va'a's three penalties and an opportunist 30-metres drop goal by Tom May somehow kept Newcastle in touch and they began the second half with renewed hope.

Liam Botham rifled a penalty into the corner and they were just held out before Va'a kicked another penalty.

After 60 minutes Newcastle swung the ball left with Taione in the centre and Botham sent Shaw over in the corner for an excellent try. Va'a's conversion attempt hit the bar and Bath successfully stifled the Falcons' momentum.

The best attack came in injury time when an intricate move in midfield was superbly executed and a long pas sent Stephenson scorching up the left touchline. But the cover was up to the task and he was bundled into touch.

Result: Newcastle Falcons 20 Bath 24.