Newcastle cruised to a comfortable victory over Bath, running in five tries to collect the bonus point and leave the visitors under no illusion about the work that lies ahead.

Bath celebrated last week after victory over Leeds all but guaranteed their Zurich Premiership survival - but they will look on nervously next Friday when the Tykes face Harlequins.

Coach Michael Foley made his first signing for the club in veteran hooker Jonathan Humphreys, but on this showing it will need far more invention and passion if there is to be any improvement next term.

Difficult conditions had made the first half an even contest, with Newcastle leading 10-9 at the turnaround.

But after the break Jamie Noon, Michael Stephenson, Epi Taione and Inga Tuigamala all added to Tom May's opening try.

Foley again opted to play Iain Balshaw at fly-half after mixed performances in previous outings in the number 10 shirt.

The England winger did little to justify his selection as opposite number Jonny Wilkinson ran the show for Newcastle.

Strong winds and heavy rain made handling treacherous - and Balshaw struggled in all departments, missing a pair of first-half drop goal attempts for good measure.

Wilkinson was struggling too, dropping the ball twice in the rain - the second after a thundering break from the recalled Tuigamala.

Bath strayed offside, and Wilkinson landed the penalty to equalise an earlier kick from Olly Barkley - but that was the only return from a low-key opening half-hour.

Dave Barnes and Falcons' lock Stuart Grimes had a set-to as the sun replaced the rain, and Barkley landed a second penalty to give Bath the advantage.

But Newcastle's response was emphatic, Wilkinson's superb 40metre kick moving the Falcons to within 10 of the Bath line.

Under pressure for the first time in the game, the visitors' defence was solid and repeatedly kept the Falcons at bay.

But three line-outs and a scrum later Tom May found the chink, racing on to Wilkinson's feed to burst through Mike Tindall's tackle and dive over under the posts.

Wilkinson duly converted. But with the interval drawing closer Barkley landed a third penalty, after Micky Ward had been penalised for not releasing, to reduce the arrears.

Soon after the interval Bath slipped back again.

After a neat chip and chase from Balshaw had come to nothing, another giant kick from Wilkinson into the corner heaped on the pressure.

The first line-out was lost. But Bath failed to escape from their own 22, and from a second throw in Taione plundered forward and Wilkinson fed Stephenson to slice through.

Within two minutes Noon, who captained the England Sevens side in Singapore last week, was the next recipient of a Wilkinson pass - and he too ran over unopposed as Newcastle opened up a 24-9 lead.

The Falcons were oozing confidence, and a series of crunching tackles - the best of which from Wilkinson dumped Bath captain and number eight Dan Lyle on his backside - kept the visitors pinned in their own half.

With 10 minutes remaining Mark Gabey was sin-binned for collapsing the maul, and the Falcons took full advantage to secure the win and the bonus point.

Tuigamala, tight on the right wing, spun a long pass to Wilkinson in midfield. He launched another to Taione on the left, and given space the Tongan is unstoppable.

To cap a miserable day for Balshaw, he failed to deal with Noon's grubber through - and Samoan Tuigamala simply picked up and fell over the line.

It was only Newcastle's fourth bonus point of the season and keeps their European hopes very much alive as they leapfrog Wasps into sixth place.

For Bath, though, it is a different story. Their season cannot end soon enough.

Newcastle: Botham, Tuigamala, Noon, May, Stephenson, Wilkinson, Charlton, Ward, Brotherstone, Hurter, Vyvyan, Grimes, Taione, Devonshire, Dunbar.

Replacements: Graham for Ward (77), Mower for Devonshire (77), Arnold for Dunbar (68).

Not Used: Armstrong, D. Richardson, Makin, Weir.

Tries: May, Stephenson, Noon, Taione, Tuigamala.

Cons: Wilkinson 4.

Pens: Wilkinson.

Bath: Thirlby, Voyce, Tindall, Barkley, Danielli, Balshaw, Cooper, D. Barnes, Regan, Emms, Borthwick, Grewcock, Scaysbrook, Gabey, Lyle.

Replacements: Cox for Barkley (65), Mallett for D. Barnes (75), Davy for Regan (78), N. Thomas for Grewcock (58), G. Thomas for Scaysbrook (62).

Not Used: Dalzell, Mears.

Sin Bin: Gabey (70).

Pens: Barkley 3.

Ref: S Leyshon (RFU).