Bath v Newcastle, 07/05/2011

For the first time, the Falcons go into the final league match of the season still battling relegation. If anybody needs reminding, we are a point above Leeds with a far better points difference, and while our task is no means easy at Bath tomorrow, our fellow northerners face an even more difficult visit to Northampton.

The scenario are simple – however many points we get at The Rec, Leeds need at least two more at Franklin's Gardens.

Tomorrow's trip to Bath is our second on the last day of a regular season.

The last time was in May 2003, a week after the Falcons pulled off the greatest escape seen in rugby. By the time the match came around we were already safe having beaten Saracens at KP, but Bath were still in the mire and as such the match was a complete sell-out.

I had seen the date tickets went on general sale a few weeks earlier but unfortunately I had forgotten to get some so it seemed I was going to miss out on potentially a massive game and disappoint the then wor lass by not taking her to Bath.

For the only time, I pulled a connection and managed to get two tickets from the players' allocation, and I think the lass enjoyed the match more than I did as I actually watched it (we got beat and Bath stayed up, not that I cared who went down since we were already safe) while she spent 80 minutes chatting to James Grindal's girlfriend.

Although we have often struggled against London Irish at home, overall Bath must be our biggest bogey team, winning 12 of our last 13 meetings stretching just over six years. Our only victory over the Bathplugs in that time was a bonus point win at the Premiership's most scenic stadium in October 2009, a glorious day that was the latest of so many false dawns.

Already this season though we have been beaten in the old Roman city in the LV=Cup back in January, before losing the Premiership meeting in the North East six days ago.

The Falcons have survival in their hands, and have made a big effort to haul themselves off the bottom of the table in the last few weeks. We can't waste it all now.

Falcons team:

15 Jeremy Manning
14 Luke Fielden
13 Tane Tuiipulotu
12 James Fitzpatrick
11 Alex Tait
10 Jimmy Gopperth
9 Micky Young
1 Jonny Golding
2 Matt Thompson
3 Euan Murray
4 James Hudson (captain)
5 Andrew van der Heijden
6 Mark Wilson
7 Alex Gray
8 Ally Hogg

16 Rob Vickers
17 Grant Shiells
18 Kieran Brookes
19 Tim Swinson
20 Will Welch
21 Chris Pilgrim
22 Gcobani Bobo
23 Luke Eves

Bath team:

15. Sam Vesty
14. Tom Biggs
13. Matt Carraro
12. Matt Banahan
11. Nick Abendanon
10. Butch James
9. Michael Claassens ( C )
1. David Flatman
2. Lee Mears
3. Mark Lilley
4. Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe
5. Danny Grewcock
6. Ben Skirving
7. Lewis Moody
8. Simon Taylor

16. Pieter Dixon
17. Nathan Catt
18. Kane Palma-Newport
19. Luke Watson
20. Guy Mercer
21. Mark McMillan
22. Ben Williams
23. Jacques Boussuge