Bristol 27-39 Newcastle: Match report and reaction

Match stats: Bristol 27-39 Newcastle

Bristol tries: Ford-Robinson (53), O'Connell (63), Tovey (77), Eadie (80) 

Conversions: Woodward (54, 64) 

Penalties: Henson (40)

Newcastle tries: Wilson (3), Goneva (21, 58), Watson (44), Harris (73) 

Conversions: Takulua (4, 45, 58, 74) 

Penalties: Takulua (14, 25) 

Match report

A late try at Northampton denied Newcastle a potential Champions Cup play-off spot but the Falcons finished their campaign in style with a thumping 39-27 win over Bristol.

The result sees Newcastle finish eighth, with Saints' win over Harlequins pushing them just ahead into seventh.

Vereniki Goneva (pictured) scored two of the Falcons' five tries in a comfortable win over Championship-bound Bristol.

The hosts signed off with a bonus point of their own, scoring two late tries and four in all, but they were outplayed by an impressive and clinical Falcons team.

The visitors made a flying start with some quick feet from Chris Harris creating a gap and Mark Wilson then showing the pace to streak over from the 22. Sonatane Takulua converted to make it 7-0 after four minutes.

Falcons extended their lead, Takulua knocking over a penalty following a powerful scrum to make it 10-0. Newcastle meant business and extended their lead when Goneva picked the ball up from a ruck and raced over unopposed.

Bristol were not helping themselves, one fine break from Billy Searle ending in a penalty as Alby Mathewson was penalised for crossing. He protested the decision and was marched back 10 further yards, allowing Takulua to slot a second penalty of the afternoon and extend the lead to 18-0.

Gavin Henson got Bristol on the board on the stroke of half-time, knocking over a penalty with the final kick of the period.

But Newcastle extended their advantage early in the second half, Juan Pablo Socino and Marcus Watson combining on a scissors to put the latter clean through and he then produced a delightful sidestep to get over the line. Takulua's conversion made it 25-3.

However Bristol were much-improved in the second half and replacement Jamal Ford-Robinson got over soon after for their first try of the afternoon. With Henson off, Jason Woodward converted to cut the deficit to 15.

But just as it looked like they might get back into it, putting Falcons under real pressure, Goneva picked off a pass and raced the length of the pitch to wrap up the bonus point.

Bristol came straight back, with a try from another prop as Jack O'Connell was on hand following a half-break from Tusi Pisi.

Goneva pounced on another loose ball late on with what looked set to be a hat-trick score, but after racing over the line he gave the ball to Harris for the try.

Bristol had the final say however, with late tries from Jack Tovey and then the departing Mitch Eadie to finish with a flourish, albeit in a losing cause. 

Match reaction

Newcastle director of rugby Dean Richards was left a little disappointed that the win did not result in a play-off spot: "We did all that we had to but results elsewhere didn't go our way."The boys are a bit down we didn't get the Champions Cup place but they did all they could. We felt there was always a five-point win there for us but fair play to Bristol, they played well in the second half and are a good side and made it difficult for us.

"The players have adapted to minor changes to our way of playing in pre-season, and once we got that together the plans have kicked in and we kicked on from that. I was aware what was going on elsewhere but didn't need to change the way we played once that fourth try was scored.

"I suppose I would have taken this place at the start of the season. We are already planning for next season predominantly with a young side."

Mark Tainton was frustrated with Bristol's first-half display from his team: "I'm disappointed to have lost a game I was confident of winning. There is good spirit amongst the players.

"We made some mistakes in the first half which cost us dearly. We made wrong decisions but credit goes to the boys, they played to the very end and dealt well with what was a difficult game in a difficult season.

"The forwards played very well. We knew what to expect from Newcastle. It was our individual errors that gave them the opportunities and their back three was very good.

"I am very proud to have coached Bristol as a Bristol person. We've learned that the Premiership is unforgiving and that if you make errors you will concede points."