Falcons throw it away

NEWCASTLE suffered a first league defeat since November, as they lost a 14-0 half-time lead ui nlosing to Bath.

Title-challengers Leicester and Harlequins have both seen unbeaten away runs erased at Kingston Park recently but, with their season on the brink of collapsed, Bath rallied to regain their place in the top four.

Mickey Young had created one and scored the other as the Falcons established a commanding 14-0 lead at halftime.

But with their play-off ambitions wavering, Bath fought back after the break with tries from Michael Claassens and Shontayne Hape.

And, after a torrid day in front of goal for Bath’s kickers, Ryan Davis converted a penalty to edge out the Falcons by a point.

Director of rugby Steve Bates admitted Newcastle were braced for a second half comeback.

He explained: ‘‘We had to absorb a lot of pressure and if they had a kicker whose percentages were anywhere near reasonable we would have been out of the game in the first 10 minutes.

‘‘We just didn’t really create enough field position in that second half to worry Bath enough and they put us under a lot of pressure.

‘‘I expected Bath to come back at us they have some very good quality players – but it was a really spirited effort in the second half and we didn’t quite manage to keep them out.’’ Falcons fall at home Bates reserved particular praise for 20-year-old Young, who was a livewire until he came off injured in the second half after creating Williams’ try and scoring one of his own.

‘‘He is a really exciting young player,’’ he said. ‘‘He has a lot to learn and we have said all along, playing against top scrum-halves in this league will improve him as a player.

‘‘He is capable of playing at that (Saxons level).’’ On a day ripe for Bath’s expansive rugby, the visitors threw the ball wide with intent early on.

However, it was the home side who opened the scoring from a turnover in their own half after 13 minutes.

Young, ever aware, hacked the loose ball ahead before collecting, evading two tacklers and threading a crossfield kick into the path of Danny Williams on the opposite wing. Tom May added the conversion.

Bath had the opportunity to reply soon after but Butch James missed from in front of the posts and drew jeers from the Falcons fans as he blasted an easier attempt even further wide minutes later.

Despite long periods around their opponents 22 with the ball, Bath were kept at bay through a combination of Newcastle’s strong defence and their own carelessness.

For the Falcons, forays into the opponents half were rare but threatening.

And Young almost put over Alex Tait in the left corner before he extended Newcastle’s lead in the 36th minute.

A Matt Banahan surge down the left wing resulted in another penalty conceded by Bath, and in a flash Young grabbed the ball, took the tap and raced over from 35 yards.

Such was the swiftness of the scrum-half, the Bath players scarcely had time to give chase.

Unlike his opposite number, James, May was again accurate with the conversion.

The South African World Cup winner was substituted at half-time but replacement Davis could do no better, missing a penalty after the break.And again the back-up number 10 scuffed a simple kick minutes later.

Bath’s superior possession finally told in the 59th minute when scrum-half Claassens took a quick tappenalty and forced his way over the line. Davis missed the kick.

The visitors moved to within four points of the hosts when a sweeping backs move led to Hape brushing off a challenge from Tane Tu’ipulotu and coasting into the corner.

Davis found the kick from the touchline to reduce the deficit further.

And the fly-half’s recalibrated compass put them in front with a penalty with 13 minutes remaining.