Finn Russell makes Bath debut in six-try win over Newcastle
Big Bath signing Finn Russell made his debut as a first-half replacement but it was skipper Ben Spencer who was the star of the show with a hat-trick of tries in the 34-26 win over Newcastle at The Rec.
The home side touched down six times in all, the other tries going to Alfie Barbeary, Cameron Redpath and Will Muir, while Spencer also landed two conversions.
Newcastle, with nothing like Bath’s spending power, caused the home side no end of trouble at the breakdown and scored three tries through Matias Orlando, Ben Stevenson and Jamie Blamire.
Turnovers presented fly-half Brett Connon with two easy penalties in the first 10 minutes but the visitors then lost left wing Stevenson to the sin-bin for a reckless knock-on.
The home side capitalised by driving from Charlie Ewels’ line-out take and number eight Barbeary forced his way over for a first try in Bath colours, although Spencer missed the conversion.
Indiscipline at the breakdown continued to haunt them, however, and Connon landed a fine 50-metre kick to take the Falcons further ahead at 9-5.
When Bath did set their strike runners free, the offloads just would not stick or there was no support for the tackled player at the breakdown.
Although Joe Cokanasiga wriggled free on the right wing and found Spencer in support for Bath’s second try after 21 minutes, the skipper could not convert and the Falcons regained the lead when centre Orlando broke a tackle to score at the other end.
Connon’s conversion was good but the lead was short-lived as Redpath scored from a neat offload on the line by hooker Tom Dunn on the half-hour and this time Spencer converted.
With Russell on the field as a 31st-minute replacement for Max Ojomoh, being checked for a head injury, there was still time for Spencer to finish off a sweeping Bath move under the posts and his conversion put Bath 24-16 ahead at the break.
The Falcons came out for the second half full of attacking intent and it was only desperate Bath covering and a foot in touch that denied them again.
Spencer continued to drive his team on and fittingly completed his hat-trick after 47 minutes, collecting his own delicate chip ahead on the volley to finish off a move begun by Russell with a tap-and-go on the Bath 22. Spencer’s conversion attempt struck the post.
Newcastle refused to be overrun and Stevenson also showed good football skills to touch down at the other end for an unconverted score.
Another yellow card, shown to replacement flanker Rory Jennings after a clash of heads with ball-carrier Barbeary, made the visitors’ task more difficult and Muir barged his way over for a sixth Bath try.
Russell was looking more comfortable and authoritative by the minute as Bath’s playmaker but could not make the conversion.
Hooker Blamire emerged from a pile of bodies to be awarded his side’s third try with a minute remaining and Connon could have earned a losing bonus too but his conversion was wide.
Comments on RugbyPass
Who listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
40 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
40 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
39 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
1 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
4 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
1 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
4 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
4 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
4 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
4 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
40 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
4 Go to comments