Premiership: Newcastle Falcons 35-8 Worcester Warriors

Alex Tait (left) crossed early on to send Newcastle on their way to victory against Worcester

Newcastle opened their Premiership campaign with a convincing bonus-point home win against Worcester.

Alex Tait crossed under the posts after some early dominance by Falcons, while Sonatane Takulua kicked a conversion and a penalty before the break.

Worcester responded after the restart with a Josh Adams score in the corner but were punished by their own errors.

Rob Vickers and Kyle Cooper barged before Juan Pablo Socino secured the bonus point with a fourth try late on.

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Worcester, who finished one place above relegated Bristol last season, had a night to forget in the north east.

After losing centre Wynand Olivier through injury in the warm-up his late replacement, British & Irish Lion Ben Te'o, lasted just 27 minutes before picking up an injury to his arm.

After full-back Adams' try had reduced Falcons' lead to 10-8 shortly after half-time, Warriors then made a series of errors inside their own 22.

Scrum-half Takulua missed just one attempt off the tee as he weighed in with 12 points for Newcastle, who are bidding to improve on their eighth-placed finish last season.

Newcastle director of rugby Dean Richards:

"The boys went out and delivered, so I'm really pleased with that. I'm delighted to get a bonus point win in the first game of the season, it's a real positive.

"It's a very happy changing room but the boys have said it's great to start with a win at home but now we have to back it up with a win next week (at Sale).

"We've changed our emphasis slightly from last season and the boys have worked very hard and we're improving year on year, which we always aim to do.

"It's going to be a long season but getting a win early on is key."

Worcester director of rugby Gary Gold:

"The defeat is a very bitter pill to swallow. It was a very disappointing performance.

"We didn't play at all well and it's not a great start to what is always a long hard season.

"We don't have a choice, we have to regroup. I still have confidence in these players and we have to be tough on ourselves.

"Our error count was incredibly high and our discipline let us down."

Newcastle: Hammersley; Tait, Harris, Matavesi, Agulla; Hodgson, Takulua; Vickers, Cooper, Welsh, Green, Witty, Wilson, Welch (c), Chick.

Replacements: Lawson, Mavinga, Davison, Cavubati, Latu, Stuart, Willis, Socino.

Warriors: Adams; Hammond, Te'o, Willison, Heem; Heathcote, Arr; Bower, Singleton, Schonert, O'Callaghan (c), Spencer, Cox, Lewis, Van Velze.

Replacements: Taufete'e, Waller, Alo, Phillips, Faosiliva, Stringer, Olver, Shillcock.