Bath moved one step closer to the Premier League playoffs with a 28-17 victory over Newcastle at Kingston Park. The away team got the actioning bonus point in a frantic first half – Thomas du Toit, Ben Spencer, Joe Cokanasiga and Matt Gallagher all scored -only Jamie Blamire’s double giving their opponents a break.
Finn Russell, back after a groin health issue, was dominant from the start, scoring all four conversions to give his side a 28-10 halftime lead. Sam Stuart’s attempt after the Break was the reward for a spirited performance by the home side which prevented Bath from adding points to their first half-but there was no comeback for the spectators to enjoy, as Bath finished second.
It took the visitors less than five minutes to open the scoring, Du Toit caught a loose ball and scored for his 11th attempt of the season. The rush continued and the hawks could not stop the yellow tide early. Spencer was the next to score, taking the ball from a backpack in the 13th Minute and working his way through the posts, also surviving a TMO exam.
The hosts should have reduced the deficit seven minutes after when Cameron Hutchison crossed the line to force a two-on-two situation, but his offload to Guy Pepper was sloppy and the Chance was gone. They were penalised in the 28th Minute when Cokanasiga went over on the right wing – Russell nailed the tricky transition to extend the lead to 21-0.
Blamire finally drew cheers from the home faithful nine minutes before half-time, but Bath’s bonus point was secured as Gallagher completed an excellent team move before Blamire doubled his tally by another mouth with the last game of the half to give the Falcons some hope
After a prolonged period of pressure, the hosts finally got their third try through Stuart. Brett Connon added the Extras for the first time on the night to close the gap to 11 points. But Newcastle’s lack of carelessness and his habit of having to follow the game cost him in the end.
Sale increased their chances of a playoff spot with a 31-22 bonus-point win over Leicester. Gus Warr, Tommy Taylor, Sam James and Tom O’Flaherty raced for the trials as last Season’s runner-up claimed four consecutive bonus-point wins.
Leicester took an early lead thanks to a rare attempt by Dan Cole and also went through Matt Scott in the first half, while England’s George Martin added a third just four minutes from the end.
The Sharks, who started the weekend in sixth position, travel to Saracens on the last day of the league season next weekend and almost certainly need another win to have any chance of making the top four. You will finish third with teams around you who have not yet played on the weekend.
The Tigers took an early lead when Cole crashed over the tryline to make it 5-0, but Sale toppled him in the 10th Minute when Warr fired over the line from five yards out.