Bath see off Newcastle Falcons

Bath have returned to Aviva Premiership action with a 23-14 victory over Newcastle Falcons at the Recreation Ground.

Following a cagey opening, the hosts made the breakthrough on 26 minutes when Gavin Henson scored a drop goal, but Newcastle responded soon after as Mark Wilson's try was converted by Juan Pablo Socino.

However, Bath had the final say in the first half when Henson added the extras to captain Stuart Hooper's try.

The home side made their dominance count at the start of the second period as Henson converted Jonathan Joseph's score, while three more points from the boot of Henson on 65 minutes made it 20-7 to Bath.

Newcastle threatened with eight minutes left when Sinoti Sinoti's try was converted by Rory Clegg, only for Henson to seal the points for Bath with a penalty in the dying stages.