Falcons lose to powerful Bath second half
By Leipziger
February 9 2014
Newcastle Falcons have crept a point closer to the dropzone this weekend after following up Worcester's bonus-point loss to Leicester on Friday night with a 24-6 defeat at Bath yesterday afternoon.
Thoroughly outplayed in the Roman city, the Falcons have now taken just one point out of the last thirty-five available in the league and after an encouraging win over Newport Gwent Dragons in the cup last week, almost the same team did not threaten to do the same to the south-westerners.
Bath ran the game almost from start to finish but were only able to score a penalty in the first half with George Ford's radar generally awry in the wild wind and rain. Ford's successful attempt was cancelled out by Phil Godman on the half-hour when the Falcons made their first real incursion into the home half.
Adam Powell, an early replacement for the injured Sinoti Sinoti, and Noah Cato saved tries by intercepting passes out wide and the Geordies defended for their lives in the face of a powerful and fast Bath attack.
They did lose Oliver Tomaszczyk late in the first forty to was probably a team yellow card for killing the ball, referee Tim Wigglesworth finally losing patience as the penalties mounted up against the visitors.
However, while the prop was off, the Falcons actually went ahead as Godman kicked a penalty early in the second period.
Perhaps the best opportunity the Falcons had to score a try came when Anthony Watson dropped a pass almost on his own try line, but the away side were penalised for collapsing the reset scrum and Bath cleared.
Bath went upfield and, playing into the wind, finally made the breakthrough as Horacio Agulla rounded the defence on the right to get the day's first try, converted by Ford.
Predictably, the Falcons had no answer and Leroy Houston, a tower at number eight all day, powered through for the second score under the posts, making the score 17-6.
Bath went in search of further scores while Newcastle continued to be pinned back with little prospect of stealing a losing a bonus point.
The four-try extra point eluded Bath as it was not until the final play that Francois Louw got the third score to send the locals home happy with their team continuing to march towards the playoffs. The Falcons however look to have serious thinking to do if they are to stop relying on Worcester to prevent an immediate return to the Championship.
Falcons lose to powerful Bath second half
Posted by: FalconsRugby.org.uk (IP Logged)
Date: 09/02/2014 20:57
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