Bristol Bears became just the fourth side sitting top of the Gallagher Premiership to be beaten by the bottom side with a 30-15 defeat to Newcastle Falcons on Friday night.
Bristol's unbeaten start to the league season came to an end at Kingston Park as repeated errors saw any momentum they had in the game dissipate.
Man of the match Mateo Carreras – one of three Argentines coming into the Falcons’ starting XV, along with Matias Orlando and debutant Matias Moroni – scored the first and last of the hosts’ four tries with hooker George McGuigan scoring his fifth of the season and Connor Collett also on the scoresheet. Tian Schoeman kicked 10 points for the home side on his full debut having joined from Bath in the summer, while Henry Purdy and Richard Lane went over for Bristol and AJ MacGinty booted five points.
READ MORE: Newcastle Falcons 30-15 Bristol Bears LIVE: Reaction as bottom beats top in the Premiership
Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam said: "We knew what was coming but weren't there mentally tonight. We made so many errors and mistakes. We said before the match we don't want to feed them because they are a hungry team after last week [losing 39-5 to Worcester].
"We are pretty embarrassed with that performance. Unfortunately it wasn't a great performance from us and it is our turn to bounce back now but that is the Premiership, if you are not on your game someone will knock you over. Our decision making was poor, our passing was poor, our tackling was poor, we were not consistent. It is one of those games we probably need to flush down the toilet and it is Exeter at home now."
While Carreras will grab the headlines for his try, the second of which was a stunning 60m effort which saw him slide on the outside of Chris Vui before turning for Lane inside and out with his footwork and pace, it was some defensive work from the diminutive Argentine which laid the foundations for the victory as a last-ditch tackle stopped MacGinty from going in under the posts following a cutting incision from Piers O'Conor. However, the Bears won a penalty for offside and MacGinty was able to kick an easy three points.
The Falcons stormed back and were held up inches from the try line before winning their own penalty. They opted for the five-metre scrum and their endeavour was rewarded with Carreras going in at the corner after Schoeman had flung a long pass out to the left.
Ed Holmes was sent to the sin-bin for a late not arms tackle on 20 minutes, with Newcastle turning the screw. It did not take long for the advantage to work in their favour as Collett waltzed through from lineout five metres out to extend the lead. Schoeman failed to add the extras to either of his side’s opening two tries.
Kyle Sinckler was penalised at a scrum for not driving straight and an easy kick was turned down in favour of a kick to the corner. McGuigan squeezed over from a pick and go following the lineout before Schoeman split the posts.
The Bears started the second half on the front foot and spent the opening five minutes deep inside Newcastle territory. However, a succession of penalties resulted in Collett spending 10 minutes in the bin. Within the space of a minute, the Falcons lost Sean Robinson – again for infringements close to the line.
The numerical advantage eventually worked in the favour of the Bears, with Purdy going over in the corner. MacGinty sent his conversion attempt wide of the post.
Bristol then grabbed their second try of the half as Lane crashed over with Newcastle still down to 13 men. MacGinty added the conversion to bring the visitors back to within a score, with 21 minutes of the game remaining.
But back to full compliments, Schoeman calmed home nerves with a penalty before hitting the upright from another long-range penalty five minutes from time. The loose ball was not taken cleanly by Bristol and they ultimately conceded another penalty, but this time in their own 22. Schoeman made no mistake from 15 metres to take away the losing bonus point from Bristol.
Newcastle sealed the try bonus with the clock in the red as Carreras showed his wheels to race in for his second try. Schoeman added the conversion to put some added gloss on the score.
Bristol, down to second in the table overnight having lost their points advantage over Exeter Chiefs, face the Devon outfit next.
Newcastle Falcons : 15 Tom Penny, 14 Adam Radwan, 13 Matias Moroni, 12 Matias Orlando, 11 Mateo Carreras, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Sam Stuart; 1 Adam Brocklebank, 2 George McGuigan, 3 Trevor Davison, 4 Greg Peterson, 5 Sean Robinson, 6 Will Welch (captain), 7 Connor Collett, 8 Callum Chick.
Replacements: 16 Charlie Maddison, 17 Logovi’i Mulipola, 18 Richard Palframan, 19 Sebastian de Chaves, 20 Jamie Blamire, 21 Josh Barton, 22 George Wacokecoke, 23 Pete Lucock.
Bristol Bears: 15 Rich Lane, 14 Luke Morahan, 13 Jack Bates, 12 Piers O'Conor, 11 Henry Purdy, 10 AJ MacGinty, 9 Andy Uren, 1 Jake Woolmore, 2 Will Capon, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 4 Ed Holmes, 5 Joe Joyce, 6 Chris Vui, 7 Jake Heenan (c), 8 Magnus Bradbury
Replacements: 16 Harry Thacker, 17 Yann Thomas, 18 Max Lahiff, 19 John Hawkins, 20 Dan Thomas, 21 Harry Randall, 22 Callum Sheedy, 23 Sam Bedlow.
Referee: Luke Pearce (132nd Premiership game).
Assistant referees: Adam Leal and John Meredith.
TMO : Andrew Jackson.
Citing officer : Greg Garner.
