Ford converts the kick from the 22-metre line, 15 meters in from the left-hand touchline, and the flags go up.

Bath are level, with just over 10 minutes until the break.

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George Ford kicks Bath downfield from a penalty, offering an attacking platform just inside the Wasps 22. Ross Batty throws long and Wasps are penalised for not releasing in the tackle, offering Ford a relatively simple kick to tie the scores.

And there goes the half-time whistle.

Northampton were unable to build upon their ferocious opening quarter, but their lead is a comfortable one at the interval.

But how often do you see this? Immediately from the restart Newcastle concede a penalty, which Stephen Myler pops over the posts.

The seven-point advantage is restored 60 seconds before the break.

After 13 minutes, when Saints led 13-0, it wasn't looking brilliant for Newcastle - but they've done a fine job since then.

Northampton infringe at the breakdown and Mike Delany takes another chunk out of the score, splitting the posts from 35 metres out.

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Wasps are on the attack in the Bath 22, and the visitors concede a penalty for offside just to the right hand side of the posts.

Jimmy Gopperth makes a good connection and bisects the posts to open the scoring midway through the first half.

Poor old George Pisi, the Samoan has taken a knock and the commentators on BBC Newcastle suggest "he doesn't know what day of the week it is".

Unsurprisingly, he makes way for JJ Hanrahan.

Both sides are favouring the kicking game as they search for territory, with conditions making handling and running rugby tricky. Patience and discipline could be key this afternoon.

Quarter of an hour gone at the Ricoh Arena, and we are still scoreless although Wasps have threatened the Bath line on a couple of occasions, only to be called back for penalties.

This has been a decent recovery from the away side, who of course lost to Gloucester in their opening match seven days ago.

Kiwi kicker Mike Delany has reduced their deficit to seven points at Stadium MK, with just over 10 minutes to go until half-time.

Wasps attack down the left and Christian Wade sends a grubber kick through, but Niko Matawalu sprints back to knock the ball away.

However, the Fijian scrum-half slips off the pitch and crashes into the advertising hoardings, injuring his knee. He is fit to continue after having both knees strapped up.

A few handling errors are creeping in now, with first a knock-on from Falcons and then a spill from Saints ensuring that possession is swapped this way and that.

Still 10 points separate the two teams.

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Wasps are penalised for an infringement at the scrum, and Tom Homer goes for the posts from the 10-metre line, far out on the left.

His kick has the distance, but not the accuracy, as it drifts wide.

Ford's boot puts Wasps under pressure early on but Anthony Watson struggles to claim a high kick and hands the home side a scrum for a knock-on.

There are grey skies above, the floodlights are already on and it's raining hard in Coventry. Perfect weather for rugby...

Newcastle are on the board at last now though, as Saints are caught offside and All Black one-cap wonder Mike Delany lands the kick.

And we're under way in the second game of the day at the Ricoh Arena. Bath's George Ford gets us under way, with the visitors are in their change strip of all white.

The teams are out at the Ricoh Arena for today's second Premiership game.

More Newcastle indiscipline - and three more points for Stephen Myler right in front of the posts.

Saints continue to boss it.