Bristol secures Bonus point in home win over Newcastle

Scrum-half Harry Randall scored two tries to move Bristol off the bottom of the Premiership table with a bonus-point victory over Newcastle at Ashton Gate.

Newcastle had the better of the possession and territory but polished performances from Randall and half-back partner AJ MacGinty proved the difference as Falcons spurned a number of scoring opportunities.

Chris Vui and Fitz Harding were also on the scoresheet for Bristol, with James Williams adding two penalties and two conversions. Gary Graham and Jamie Blamire scored Newcastle’s tries.

Bristol took the lead in the ninth minute with an excellent try. From a ruck on halfway, a superb break from MacGinty carved the defence apart before his pass sent Joe Batley racing away, with the lock providing Randall with an easy run-in.

From the restart, Newcastle responded with a sustained period of pressure which was rewarded when Graham forced his way over from close range.

Connon converted to give Falcons the lead but Bristol were soon back in front when they declined a simple kick at goal in favour of close-range drives, one of which saw Vui crash over.

The players made light of the miserable playing conditions to provide an entertaining and evenly-contested first half-hour before the visitors suffered two injury blows in quick succession. First their full-back Tom Penny limped off before wing Mateo Carreras fail a head injury assessment.

Despite these setbacks, Newcastle had much the better of the closing stages of the first half. Aided by Bristol’s ill-discipline, the visitors camped in the opposition 22 and it took a superb tackle from home flanker Harding to prevent Graham from touching down for his second try.

Falcons were made to pay for their profligacy when with the last kick of the half, Williams fired over a penalty to leave his side with an undeserved interval 15-7 lead.

Within two minutes of the restart, Bristol scored a crucial third try. In their own half their opponents lost possession for MacGinty to race away and put the defence on the back foot before Randall took advantage to nip over for his second.

The home side suffered a blow when wing Gabriel Ibitoye was sin-binned for a high tackle, with Newcastle immediately capitalising when Blamire broke away from a driving maul to score.

Ibitoye returned from the sin-bin in time to see Williams extend his side’s lead with a long-range penalty before they sealed victory with a bonus-point try from Harding with the last play of the game.