Image source, Rex Features

Joel Hodgson's kicking, creativity and attacking intent has been impressive so far tonight. The Falcons number 10 has run the show, at times.

Michael Stephenson
Former Bath and Newcastle full-back on BBC Somerset

Bath will be massively frustrated. I'm sure the coaches are going to be tearing their hair out at half-time.

They need to do something to get into this game and start winning some territory, winning some phases and creating some opportunities.

But at 7-0 it's still all to play for.

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Calm down, lads. Falcons' Will Welch and Bath's Tom Dunn square up to each other off the ball, but their teammates step in and quickly calm things down.

The referee decides there's nothing of concern. Now, back to the rugby...

Newcastle defend defiantly and Bath don't even get close to the try line, despite a long spell of possession in the Falcons half.

The visitors are eventually penalised for holding on, and the hosts win a penalty.

More cheers from the home fans.

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Bath get the ball moving well for arguably the first time in the game, recycling possession quickly and spreading it left to right over multiple phases.

This is better from the visitors.

Bath's Anthony Watson, in case you wondering, was deemed OK to continue after receiving some brief treatment on the field early on, with concern for his ankle.

He's moving fine for now.

Falcons come probing forward, approaching the try line, but Bath are eventually awarded a penalty as the hosts infringe and they can relive some of the pressure.

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My word. Sloppy, sloppy, sloppy from Aled Brew.

He goes to catch a long, high kick - under little pressure - after a spell of long kicks being exchanged by the two sides, but he spills it and the ball skims off his chest, out into touch.

The Falcons fans roar with derision. In the stands, Bath head coach Tabai Matson looks unimpressed.

Bath do some bruising defensive work and turn the ball over, roughly 10m from their try-line.

Bath just can't get going as yet. Newcastle will be very happy with the first 15 minutes.

The hosts have another scrum, this time just inside the Bath half.

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This is not the start Bath director of rugby Todd Blackadder wanted to see tonight.

In the ascendancy, Newcastle win a scrum near the touchline, just inside their own half.

From precisely 29m, slightly to the left of the posts, England's George Ford kicks wide to the right and Bath remain 7-0 down.

For a man of Ford's international class, that was a simple chance to reduce the deficit.

Bath are awarded a penalty in the Falcons half and George Ford is opting to kick for three points...

Bath's six Tom Ellis takes a big old smack to the head as he tackles Opeti Fonua. Ouch.

He falls back, looking hurt. He gets some treatment and will be replaced. Fans of both teams applaud him.

Matt Garvey sprints on.

Michael Stephenson
Former Bath and Newcastle full-back on BBC Somerset

People look at the fixture list and you know there are tough places to go. I'd put Kingston Park at the top of that list.

There's something about the Newcastle fixture, whether it's the distance they have to travel, there's something about it that unsettles the away sides.

Newcastle are well aware of that.

More bad news for Bath - Anthony Watson is down, receiving some treatment to his ankle.

The visitors will hope that's nothing serious. The full-back has only just returned to fitness.

Bath director of rugby Todd Blackadder was smiling before kick-off. I'm not sure he'll be feeling quite as jovial now.

Image source, Getty Images

Anthony Watson, back in the Bath team at full-back for the first time since suffering his jaw injury with England, gets involved straight away and boots the ball upfield into Falcons territory.

The hosts have possession in their own half.

Newcastle's Joel Hodgson gets this game under way, on a calm night with pretty much no wind.