West bosses delight with their weekend wins

HEAD of rugby Johann van Graan hailed a “satisfying performance” after his Bath side completed a dominant 50-14 Gallagher Prem win over Newcastle Red Bulls on Sunday.

- REBECCA JOHNSON

A close battle in the first half saw Dan Frost score two tries after Ollie Leatherbarrow opened the scoring and Amanaki Mafi crossed for Newcastle before Archie Griffin’s try gave Bath a 19-14 lead at halftime.

But in a ruthless second half showing, Francois van Wyk, Will Butt, Tom de Glanville, Ben Spencer and Ted Hill all went over for Bath to send them top of the Prem table, and boss Van Graan was pleased with their display.

“Satisfying performance. We gave Newcastle the respect they deserve,” he said. “They've been competitive the whole season. So they started well, we punched straight back, they scored, we scored and we tidied up one or two things at halftime, then won the second half 31-0.

“To score 50 points here, away from home, that’s real testament to the group, the squad, the coaching and the staff. Very happy with the five points.”