Newcastle Falcons secured their status in the Aviva Premiership, despite tasting defeat at Bath on Saturday afternoon.

Leeds Carnegie were narrowly defeated 31-24 by Northampton at Franklin’s Gardens to ensure top-flight rugby stays in the north-east.

On a tense afternoon of Premiership Rugby, Newcastle Falcons were on the back foot right from the start, with the likes of Nick Abendanon and Matt Banahan running the show in the backs.

Bath were rewarded for their early pressure with a 40 metre penalty on eight minutes, courtesy of fly-half Butch James.

With an early advantage, the West Country outfit started to play some free-flowing rugby as the Falcons struggled to contain their opponents.

Bath extended their lead four minutes later through Sam Vesty, who took a looping James pass to cross the whitewash. James added the extras for a 10-0 lead.

And the hosts went further ahead on 28 minutes, as Ignacio Fernandez-Lobbe crashed over following a series of drives from a well organised Bath pack. On this occasion James skewed his conversion wide with the score 15-0.

The Falcons began to test their arm, trying to keep the ball alive, however they could not find a way through a strong rearguard.

Bath soon had good ball deep in Newcastle territory and centre Matt Carraro took advantage of a gap to scoot in for a try on 37 minutes. James made no mistake with the conversion to make it 22-0.

There was no let up from the Rec outfit as they scored a further try on the stroke of half-time, to go into the break already achieving the bonus point at 29-0 up.

Newcastle came out for the second period keen to claw themselves back into the game, and there was a glimmer of hope when Alex Tait pounced on a grubber to reduce the arrears to 29-5.

A penalty was awarded to Bath on 46 minutes for not rolling away, which James duly obliged with to increase their advantage to 32-5.

Alan Tait’s men showed some great resilience to cross for another Falcons try, thanks to a cross field kick from Jeremy Manning, who found Luke Fielden for an easy run to the line. Manning converted for 32-12.

The spectators were suddenly getting word from Franklin’s Gardens that Northampton were beating Leeds Carnegie 25-24.

Bath continued to press the Falcons defensive line, but the visitors battled doggedly, restricting the West Country men to shots at goal which James took advantage of to extend their lead to 35-12.

Replacement winger Jacques Boussuge rounded off the scoring in the closing stages, but Newcastle stay in the Premiership by virtue of Leeds losing at Northampton.

Bath

Tries: Vesty, Fernandez-Lobbe, Carraro, Banahan
Cons: James (2)
Pens: James (2)

Newcastle

Tries: A.Tait, Fielden
Cons: Manning
Pens: