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Five minutes to go until the break. Newcastle, all in black, have the ball on halfway. Which is pretty much where it's been for most of this half.

Nothing is happening at the AJ Bell Stadium. Amidst a scrum is where the ball has been for much of the second half. 

When Bath do get into the opposition's 22, the move breaks down.

It's all gone a bit quiet since that Marcus Watson try, a couple of reset scrums and an angry Wayne Barnes part of the reason for that.

Newcastle are awarded a penalty for a high tackle inside their own half, which they boot into touch.

We are back under way at the AJ Bell Stadium. Can Bath keep their slim top-six chances alive, or will Sale move into the top half with victory?

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Newcastle are back on the attack again now though, around 10 metres into the London Irish half. Simon Hammersley then darts through the line to take them up to the 22. The Falcons are into a seventh phase...

But then fail to release the ball on the floor and give away the penalty. A missed opportunity.

And, having been awarded a penalty, Greig Tonks is again spot on from the tee to restore London Irish's three-point advantage.

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Given Newcastle's record on their own, artificial surface at Kingston Park, I think London Irish will still be fairly satisfied with their start here though.

They're back into opposition territory again, this time with a line-out in line with the 22-metre line on the left-hand side.

The first half at the AJ Bell has basically been a story of one side being clinical and the other being profligate. 

Sale have taken their opportunities with aplomb, while Bath, who thought they had crossed through Semesa Rokoduguni, have just not shown a cutting edge.

Bath win a penalty right in front of the posts as the clock ticks towards the break. George Ford makes no mistake and the scoreboard doesn't look as bad as it could have done.

Straight from the restart the Exiles are pinged again, however, and this time Mike Delany makes no mistake. We're all level after a nervy opening 11 minutes in the North East.

Danny Cirpriani manages to get the ball through the posts to extend his side's advantage.

And where Mike Delany failed, Greig Tonks succeeds spectacularly. London Irish win a penalty just inside the Newcastle half, which Tonks just about gives enough beans to split the posts from long range. Terrific kick.

After George Ford puts through a penalty for Bath, Semesa Rokoduguni thinks he has scored a magnificent solo intercept try, running the whole length of the pitch to touch down, but the referee goes up to the TMO to see if there was an infringement.

There was: a deliberate knock on. And after all of that, Danny Cipriani now has a very kickable penalty...

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London Irish are pinged from the subsequent line-out, presenting Kiwi Mike Delany with the first shot at goal of the afternoon - but he drags his kick wide of the near upright.

From the bits and pieces I've seen from the Exiles this season, there's been a lot of huffing and puffing, plenty of decent rugby, but far too many errors just when it matters most. Sound about right?

As it happens, they've started on the front foot at Kingston Park too - but a knock-on and then an infringement at the subsequent scrum gives Newcastle a chance to clear their lines.

Newcastle's Mike Delany kicks long, London Irish gather under the high ball and we're up and running in the North East.

The two teams are out at Kingston Park then, Newcastle Falcons all in black, London Irish all in green.

Everyone ready for a big old ding dong?