And Bath fly-half Freddie Burns gets us going again at The Rec.

As it stands, the Blue, Black and Whites are heading up to fifth in the Premiership.

Can they hang on or will Leicester turn it around in the second half to register back-to-back victories?

Image source, Getty Images

Cagey start to this second half as both sides try to gain territory.

Bit of a kicking exchange to begin things. Bristol know they will need a bit more than that to unpick this Newcastle defence, who have Micky Young back from a head injury assessment to pull the strings at scrum-half.

And Harlequins have given Dave Ward a one-game ban for a stamp on Thomas Young in yestrday's win over Wasps

But Quins have cleared the hooker following an allegation of spitting at the flanker.

Second half already under way at Ashton Gate.

Bristol have had a 2018 to remember getting promoted back to the Premiership at the first time of asking and upsetting a few big names on home turf on their return to the top flight.

Can they mastermind another comeback here to send their fans into the New Year in good spirits or can Newcastle hang on for the win to lift themselves off the foot of the table?

A couple more news lines from today as we wait for the action to get going again.

First, Sale boss Steve Diamond may be investigated by the RFU following a confrontation with a journalist after his side's win at Gloucester.

Jack Wilson
Bath winger on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

Image source, Getty Images

Leicester started really well, they identified a bit of space in our backfield for that try and subsequently applied a lot of pressure with their kicking game.

But then the momentum swung towards us and we had a good patch of play but couldn't really convert until the end there.

In the last 10 minutes we let Leicester off the hook, we tried to play too much from our own half and didn't keep the pressure on, which is a bit of a shame.

Some positive news for Tigers fans as they refresh themselves at half-time.

Leicester have signed wingers Tom Varndell and Leonardo Sarto as cover for injuries in the Premiership side's squad.

It seems a lot of you have been very busy over the Christmas period playing head coach and picking your team of 2018.

After Chris Jones and Ugo Monye put their heads together to select the BBC Rugby Union Weekly team of the year, you've come out and passed your own verdicts.

We've put all those selections into the system and here's who made the starting XV:

Image source, .

Agree or disagree with that? Who's been badly overlooked?

Have your say using #bbcrugby

You can read more about who was the most selected right here.

Bath see out the half with a defensive line-up to grab a deserved lead at the break at The Rec.

Jonny May gave the visitors the lead but tries from Jamie Roberts and Nathan Catt brough the hosts back into the game.

However, the suffered a couple of injuries before the break and still have work to do to see the game out.

A weaving run from Jonah Holmes brings the Tigers back up the pitch after they were forced back, but then play is halted as it crept near a Bath player getting treatment.

Nathan Catt is replaced by Jacques van Rooyen in the Blue, Black and Whties' front row.

Matt Garvey hobbles off with an ankle injury, with Charlie Ewels coming on. A double blow for Bath.

There are just two minutes to half-time

Image source, Rex Features

A quite manic end to that first half at Ashton Gate almost sees both sides add another try.

Bristol were threatening until an interception on the left nearly sent Veriniki Goneva and Simon Hammersley away again, but then their handling lets them down.

Wayne Barnes blows his whistle and sends the two sides down the tunnel after a pulsating first 40 minutes.

Leicester are finishing the half on top, with about four minutes left, as they enjoy a spell of possession inside the Bath half.

They can't find their way into the 22 as yet - they haven't been back there since Jonny May scored the opening try of the game.

Newcastle caught offside on their own 22 and Bristol decide to take three points in front of the posts to reduce the deficit with just over eight minutes until half-time.

Ian Madigan on target yet again.

Couple of changes forced for Newcastle with head injury assessments as both John Hardie and Micky Young head off for treatment.

Bristol will look to take advantage of the change in personnel.

From the sublime to the ridiculous from Leicester.

They look like they have survived the danger, and have a chance to work the ball clear, but then a knock on from a forward five yards out hands the impetus back to Bath.

They get another scrum five metres out.

The hosts have had almost 80 percent of possession in the first 25 minutes.

Jack Wilson
Bath winger on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

We can't buy a try at the moment. We are building great pressure but not having that payback on the scoreboard, which is annoying.

We have to keep the pressure on to turn dominance into points.

Bristol under pressure after winger Tom Pincus tried to sneak away from an advancing Newcastle line.

Taken down by Simon Hammersley and Chris Harris and he fails to release the ball in time.

Penalty conceded which Toby Flood slots over on 28 minutes to extend Newcastle's lead.

Image source, Getty Images