Bath booked a Premiership play-off semi-final place after tries from flanker
Angus Gardiner and centre Shaun Berne grounded the Falcons.
Newcastle's campaign came to a grinding halt in the Recreation Ground
sunshine, although they could still qualify for next season's Heineken Cup.
It all depends on which sides contest the May 13 Twickenham play-off final,
ensuring an anxious fortnight for Doddie Weir's men.
Bath will travel to Wasps or Gloucester next weekend, yet will require a
significant improvement on this erratic display.
Full-back Matt Perry kicked two penalties and a conversion - but missed four
kicks at goal - while Dave Walder's penalty hat-trick was never going to be
enough.
Bath, already assured of Heineken Cup qualification through their third-place
Premiership finish, made a bright start that bristled with attacking adventure.
Perry botched two early penalty chances either side of a dust-up between the
forwards that saw Bath prop John Mallett go off for treatment to repair a facial
cut.
Walder, deputising for the rested Jonny Wilkinson, twice sent teasing tactical
kicks deep into Bath's 22, yet early exchanges proved forward-orientated once
Newcastle established a foothold in the game.
Bath's ball-in-hand threat produced a spectacular reward on 21 minutes through
a strong try-of-the-season contender.
England star Iain Balshaw raced clear from deep inside his own half and superb
support work from lock Mark Gabey and hooker Andy Long ensured momentum was
maintained.
Fly-half Mike Catt and centre Kevin Maggs then provided an incisive midfield
link, which allowed Gardiner to finish off a breathtaking 80-metre move.
Perry's kicking woes continued when he missed the conversion and Walder
reduced the arrears to 5-3 through a short-range penalty when Bath strayed
offside.
Gardiner, though, quickly went from hero to villain, blatantly killing
possession in the shadow of Bath's posts and referee Robin Goodliffe had no
hesitation brandishing a yellow card.
Walder slotted the simple penalty, edging Falcons ahead as Bath went through
an error-strewn spell.
But with Gardiner still off they managed to stretch the Newcastle defence
right and left before Falcons ran out of numbers and centre Maggs sent his
unmarked midfield partner Berne sprinting over.
Perry's conversion secured a 15-6 interval lead and put Bath firmly in the
driving seat.
Newcastle boss Rob Andrew made a predictable interval switch, sending on
renowned game-breaker Inga Tuigamala for wing Epi Taione.
And the visitors cut their deficit on 48 minutes through another Walder
penalty, awarded after Bath wing Tom Voyce was punished for a deliberate
knock-on in thwarting a Michael Stephenson-inspired counter-attack.
Further Falcons reinforcements arrived in the shape of substitute props Ian
Peel and George Graham, yet Newcastle might easily have been reduced to 14 men
when Bath lock Steve Borthwick was sent tumbling from a line-out.
Referee Goodliffe took no action apart from awarding Bath a penalty but
Perry's misery continued as he sliced a straightforward chance badly wide.
He made no mistake just six minutes later though, bisecting the posts to put
Bath nine points clear and leave Newcastle facing an increasingly difficult
task.
Falcons threw everything at Bath during the closing minutes but they could not
breach a well-organised home defence and must now play a waiting game before
knowing their European status next term.
Zurich man of the match: Andy Long (Bath).
Bath:
Tries: Gardiner, Berne.
Cons: Perry.
Pens: Perry 2.
Team: Perry, Balshaw, Maggs, Berne,
Voyce, Catt, Cooper,
Barnes, Long, Mallett, Gabey, Borthwick, Gardiner, Lloyd, Lyle.
Replacements: G. Thomas for Lloyd (62).
Not Used: Preston, Regan, Emms, Cox, Thirlby, Haag.
Sin Bin: Gardiner (29).
Newcastle:
Pens: Walder 3.
Newcastle: Stephenson, Botham, Noon, May, Taione, Walder,
Armstrong, Ward, Nesdale, Hurter, Grimes, Weir, Vyvyan, Mower, Arnold.
Replacements: Massey for Botham (80),
Tuigamala for Taione (40), Peel for Ward (52),
Graham for Hurter (52), Devonshire for Mower (71).
Not Used: Charlton, Howe.
Att: 6,840
Ref: Rob Goodliffe (RFU).
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