Things got off to a great start for Bristol, in the typically windy conditions at Kingston Park, when Shaun Perry made a fine break down the narrow side before slipping a neat pass to Scott Linklater who dummied the Newcastle fullback to score.  Ed Barnes converted well to take Bristol to a 0 -7 lead.  The quick thinking of Perry was typical of his performance throughout and he looked close to his pre World Cup form.  Further good play from the visitors saw the award of penalty just 5 metres out following incisive running from the Bristol backs.  Bristol went for the catch and drive only to be held out.  Fortunately, Newcastle had again infringed and Bristol had the chance to repeat the move.  This time they were more effective and Joe El Abd scored for the second match in succession.  Barnes languidly converted to place Bristol in command at 0 -14.

The Newcastle lineout was badly malfunctioning and it meant that their backline had little quality ball as they struggled to gain possession.  An exchange of punches enlivened the match as Linklater and Dowson squared up.  The Bristol hooker was more effective here than his larger opponent (mirroring the pattern of the match) but both players saw yellow cards brandished and the Newcastle penalty was reversed, much to the home supporters' dismay.  Bristol then won the subsequent lineout despite the hooker's absence.  A penalty went Bristol's way again and Barnes was unerring to extend the lead to 0 - 17.  A quickly taken Bristol lineout saw Rudd (?) trip one of the Arscott brothers but the nearby referee inexplicably missed it.  Good kicking, however, eased Bristol back into Newcastle territory and the award of another kickable penalty followed.  With the clock now on zero Barnes was surprisingly off target with perhaps his easiest opportunity, but Bristol went in at half time with a 0 -17 lead.

With the wind against them Bristol were put under initial pressure from Newcastle as the second half commenced.  Bristol were soon back into their stride and won an early penalty that went to touch, winning the lineout and going through several phases before the award of yet another penalty.  This time the Bristol lineout was less successful than for most of the match and they failed to make any headway, although poor play from Newcastle enabled Bristol maintain their territorial dominance.  It was against the run of play when May made a searing break following his fortuitous pickup the awkwardly bouncing ball.  He offloaded to the young debutant, Miller, who went over for his first Premiership try.  Sadly for him he was unable to cap his effort with the conversion, but he had narrowed the gap to 5 -17 early in the half.

Newcastle sensed a comeback and a penalty further narrowed the gap to 8 -17 as Miller atoned for his earlier miss.  As the game moved into the final quarter Newcastle continued to make threatening moves as Bristol defended stoutly.  The hosts forced their way close to the line and Bristol struggled to contain a succession of scrums and gave away three or four penalties that Newcastle boldly chose to scrum.  Bristol had the spirit, and professionalism, to hold out before driving the attackers back with aggressive but controlled defence.  Finally replacement Andrew Blowers, as so often before, ripped the ball from the despairing grasp of a Newcastle player to give possession back to Bristol.

Luke Arscott, solid throughout, then took on the Newcastle defence before feeding the ball to brother Tom who won the penalty as the Newcastle defence failed to stay on their feet.  Barnes kicked the penalty over for an 8 - 23 lead.  Bristol were exerting control of the match and the retuning Dan Ward-Smith made a good 30 metre break to force Newcastle backwards.  Bristol unfortunately turned over possession, but even uncontested scrums following injuries to the Newcastle front row failed to allow any respite for the hosts.  Aimless passing sent the ball straight into Anthony Elliott's hands, probably more neatly then he had ever received as Newcastle player.  He heeded no prompting to speed round the outside of the last defender to score in the corner.  Barnes' conversion attempt rebounded off the post but Bristol were out of sight at 8 - 28 with but minutes left.  Bristol went looking for the bonus point try and another excellent break from Larscott took him close but the defence just managed to hold him out.  Time was up and Bristol had a successive away win.

A dominant performance by Bristol where the forwards out-muscled their opposition and exposed their frailties in the lineout.  In the backs we saw some good skills in attack and a typically robust defence.  Newcastle might argue that the absence of their internationals contributed greatly to their downfall, but in all honesty the failure of their first-choice forwards to establish any real territory or possession would have meant that any backline would have struggled.  Shaun Perry was probably the pick of the players on view, but the collective effort was justly rewarded.

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