NEWCASTLE paid the price for Richard Arnold's indiscipline on Saturday.

The Kiwi flanker now faces an automatic one-match ban under the totting-up procedure for receiving three yellow cards.

Mike Tindall scored the solitary try of a scrappy match as Bath ground out an uninspiring Premiership victory.

Tindall struck 18 minutes from time after Bath had trailed to a drop goal and two penalties from England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson.

But it was a drab encounter dominated by defences and one full-scale touchline punch-up that ended with referee Chris White sin-binning Arnold and Bath lock Martin Haag.

Arnold's indiscipline under-mined Newcastle's second-half performance.

Bath scored 13 points during the final quarter, scrum-half Jon Preston finishing with four penalties and the conversion of Tindall's 62nd minute effort, which was created by flanker Angus Gardiner's unstinting support work.

Defeat by no more than seven points meant Wilkinson secured a bonus point for the Falcons with an injury-time penalty, preserving his 100 per cent kicking record, but it was of scant consolation.

Newcastle possessed the game's outstanding individual in Australian flanker Andrew Mower, whose non-stop defensive work and ability to crop up in attack meant Bath had their hands full.

The Falcons rarely missed a first-up tackle, yet their efforts were spoilt by poor handling in attacking areas of the field.

New Zealander John Leslie is still struggling to live up to his reputation.

He was again replaced at half-time by Inga Tuigamala, who also struggled to make an impact, while Liam Botham was an anonymous figure on the wing.

For Bath, this was their fourth win from five Premiership starts, keeping them well in touch with early leaders Leicester.

But coach Jon Callard will be far from happy with a display that saw Bath create few try-scoring opportunities, and they looked especially devoid of ideas without injured fly-half Mike Catt.

England international Catt withdrew suffering from a lower back problem, and his replacement, Australian Shaun Berne, could not spark Bath's back division into life.

Newcastle encountered few problems dealing with anything that Bath threw at them, snuffing out the midfield threat of Tindall and Kevin Maggs while closing down Iain Balshaw whenever the dangerous home wing received possession.

Newcastle led 9-6 at half time and preserved that lead until Bath finally awoke from their slumbers.

Preston booted Bath into a seventh-minute lead, but Wilkinson immediately equalised through a 30-metre drop goal then kicked two penalties as the visitors appeared well in control.

Preston reduced Bath's arrears before the break.

Falcons' centre Jamie Noon unluckily saw a try disallowed when referee White ruled a forward pass, and that seemed to give Bath a new lease of life as they finished much the stronger side.

Although the home team finished on top, there was little for a 7,500 crowd to enthuse about