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Finn Russell makes Bath debut in six-try win over Newcastle
By PA
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
