Newcastle Falcons took a losing bonus point off Guinness Premiership form side Bath at Kingston Park on Sunday, but will be cursing themselves having blown a five-point half-time lead.

Having got themselves 10-5 up at the break courtesy of a Rob Vickerman try and Jimmy Gopperth penalty, the Falcons were hit by a second-half blitz from the West Country side.

It had all started so well for Newcastle, as they looked to run the ball in front of their biggest home crowd of the year.

But despite their early adventure the Falcons found themselves behind as early as the 11th minute, as giant wing Matt Banahan touched down in the left corner with Bath recycling quick ball after a huge defensive hit by opposite number Danny Williams.

Almost straight from the restart the hosts hit back though, Gopperth executing a sublime show-and-go on half way before setting off on a winding run to the five-metre line.

Setting up a close range ruck in front of the posts, the ball was worked quickly through the hands to the left, with Tane Tu’ipulotu and Brent Wilson linking up to free Vickerman for a score in the corner.

Gopperth nailed the touchline conversion impressive to claim a two-point lead, and there was further cheer from the home crowd as Tu’ipulotu grubbered down the left tram lines for Amesbury to take on Michael Stephenson in a 40-metre foot race.

While the Newcastle man may have won the battle of the wingers on this occasion, both men were ultimately beaten by the bouncing ball as it rolled over the touchline for a five-metre line out.

Showing great adventure in attack, it was again Amesbury at the heart of the action as he took a quick line out on half way, setting up an attack which got to within a whisker of the line courtesy of breaks from James Hudson and Jon Golding.

A 23rd minute penalty was all the Falcons had to content themselves with before the break, Gopperth’s majestic strike bisecting the uprights from 40 metres out after hands in the ruck from the visiting side.

A barnstorming rolling maul got the crowd firing as it rumbled its way from half way right up to the Bath 22, but with Gopperth firing wide from a penalty out on the right there was to be no extending the 10-5 lead as the interval came.

Buoyed by a treble front row substitution which saw ex-Falcon David Wilson joined by Lee Mears and David Flatman for the second period, the visitors showed their strength and upped the pace for the final 40 in a show of forward power and speed.

It was only three minutes into the half before the first try arrived, fullback Nick Abendanon touching down in the left corner as the ball was worked well through the hands from the right hand side.

With Tu’ipulotu breaking the line and Golding and Rob Vickers providing leg-pumping runs, there was still plenty in the game for the hosts as they enjoyed their share of the forward spoils. Tim Swinson was once again a workhorse in the tight while Brent Wilson foraged at the breakdown.

With the sides tied at 10-10 Bath tried their hand at easing in front, but Olly Barkley’s 50-metre penalty fell well short of the posts as the two teams continued to dog it out in the tight.

Gopperth, too, fell short with a long range shot at goal, and it was a former Falcon who grabbed the killer try as prop forward Davey Wilson wriggled over the whitewash – referee JP Doyle awarding the score despite what appeared to be a double movement from the South Shields tight head.

A second Gopperth penalty narrowed the gap to four points with 12 minutes left to play, and despite a barrage of late pressure the hosts could just not turn it into points – Danny Williams coming the closest as his attempt at an interception was just a millimetre or two away from clawing in the loose ball.

In the end the Falcons had to make do with a losing bonus point against one of the leagues form sides, but having made so much of the running that will be scant consolation despite a largely rejuvenated performance.

Newcastle Falcons

Tries: Vickerman
Cons: Gopperth
Pens: Gopperth 2

Bath

Tries: Banahan, Abendanon, Wilson
Cons: Barkley

Newcastle Falcons

15 Alex Tait
14 Danny Williams
13 Rob Vickerman (Gcobani Bobo, 52)
12 Tane Tu’ipulotu
11 Charlie Amesbury
10 Jimmy Gopperth
9 Hall Charlton (Micky Young, 45)

1 Jon Golding (Laurence Ovens, 61)
2 Rob Vickers
3 Carl Hayman (captain)
4 James Hudson (Mark Sorenson, 63)
5 Tim Swinson
6 Brent Wilson
7 Will Welch (Josh Afu, 51)
8 Peter Browne

Bath

15 Nick Abendanon
14 Michael Stephenson
13 Shontayne Hape
12 Olly Barkley
11 Matt Banahan
10 Ryan Davis
9 Michael Claassens (captain)

1 David Barnes (David Flatman, 40)
2 Pieter Dixon (Lee Mears, 40)
3 Duncan Bell (David Wilson, 40)
4 Stuart Hooper
5 Peter Short
6 Andy Beattie (Jonny Faamatuainu, 65)
7 Julian Salvi
8 Luke Watson

Referee: JP Doyle
Attendance: 7,735