Falcons get a duck on 'debut'
Newcastle Falcons were defeated on their return to the Premiership, with the home side going down 21-0 to Bath Rugby on Friday.
The boot of England hopeful George Ford and Bath's forward power saw them triumph at Kingston Park.
In driving rain and swirling wind Ford kicked Bath into a 6-0 lead at the break and added a second-half penalty before replacement prop Anthony Perenise scrambled over the tryline on 63 minutes.
And in the dying moments of the match Bath added to their haul after they were awarded a penalty try with Ford converting to finish with 11 points to his name.
From the first scrum of the new season, refereed by Wayne Barnes under the revamped engagement rules, Bath won a penalty and kicked for touch with debutant Ford opting not to take on the wind.
Bath retained possession and after a further infringement Ford kicked his first points for his new club to put the visitors 3-0 ahead.
The Falcons featured just two players from the side who started against Wasps in their last Premiership fixture before relegation in 2012 but before ten minutes had passed one of those had departed to a serious looking injury.
Centre Jamie Helleur was left prone on the turf after attempting to tackle giant Bath winger Matt Banahan and after a lengthy delay he was stretchered from the field to be replaced by Adam Powell, though the Samoa international was later up and about.
The Falcons responded well, working their way deep into Bath territory only to see a series of drives ended when Ally Hogg, captain in place of the injured Will Welch, was penalised for holding on.
Bath almost capitalised when an attempted drop goal from Phil Godman was charged down by captain Stuart Hooper and Noah Cato and Alex Tait were forced to scramble back in defence.
Newcastle Falcons missed the chance to level in the 34th minute when Godman's penalty attempt missed to the right of the posts.
The error was compounded moments later when Ford succeeded from 42 metres to put Bath 6-0 ahead, a lead they held at the break.
The Falcons looked destined to get on the scoreboard early in the second half when Mike Blair's break allowed the home side to switch the ball left but the final past was just too high for Tom Catterick to collect as it slipped out of his grasp and the chance was gone.
Former Newcastle scrumhalf Micky Young returned to the club where it all started as he replaced Irishman Peter Stringer 15 minutes into the second half.
And Young looked on as the visiting scrum won a penalty from their hosts on 57 minutes, allowing Ford to extend the lead further.
Bath then took full control when Dave Attwood collected a lineout after Tait had fumbled the ball out of play and from the back of the maul replacement Perenise dived over the line before Bath's forward strength earned them a late penalty try.
The scorers:
For Newcastle Falcons:
None
For Bath:
Tries: Perenise, Penalty
Con: Ford
Pens: Ford 3
Teams:
Newcastle Falcons: 15 Alex Tait, 14 Noah Cato, 13 Danny Barnes, 12 Jamie Helleur, 11 Tom Catterick, 10 Phil Godman, 9 Mike Blair, 8 Ally Hogg (captain), 7 Andy Saull, 6 Dom Barrow, 5 Scott MacLeod, 4 Carlo del Fava, 3 Kieran Brookes, 2 Matt Thompson, 1 Franck Montanella.
Replacements: 16 Rob Vickers, 17 Scott Wilson, 18 Gary Strain, 19 Mark Wilson, 20 Chris York, 21 Warren Fury, 22 Joel Hodgson, 23 Adam Powell.
Bath: 15 Anthony Watson, 14 Semesa Rokoduguni, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Kyle Eastmond, 11 Matt Banahan, 10 George Ford, 9 Peter Stringer, 8 Leroy Houston, 7 Mat Gilbert, 6 Matt Garvey, 5 Dave Attwood, 4 Stuart Hooper (captain), 3 David Wilson, 2 Rob Webber, 1 Paul James.
Replacements: 16 Ross Batty, 17 Nathan Catt, 18 Anthony Perenise, 19 Dominic Day, 20 Alafoti Fa'osiliva, 21 Micky Young, 22 Gavin Henson, 23 Tom Biggs.
Referee: Wayne Barnes
Assistant referees: Robin Goodliffe and Paul Dix
TMO: Trevor Fisher
