DAN Lyle brought a taste of the Harlem Globetrotters to the rain-soaked Rec to ensure Bath leapt off the bottom of the Zurich Premiership with a comfortable 24-9 victory over Newcastle Falcons.

Skipper Lyle's instinctive and extravagant over-the-head reverse pass to set up a 75th-minute score for Kevin Maggs was straight out of a repertoire normally associated with Michael Jordan but the moment of basketball magic was good enough to confirm his side's third league victory of the season.

And it was fitting reward for the US Eagle, who led from the front as Bath's pack for once stole the limelight from the usual stars of the backline.

The monsoon conditions were never going to allow the likes of Balshaw, Voyce and Barkley to shine. Instead, the names of Gabey, Scaysbrook, Borthwick and Beattie were the ones to remember for this commendable fightback and hard-fought victory.

A succession of rolling mauls and expertly-executed set-pieces ground the famously-physical Falcons into submission, forcing the infringements from which Perry with 14 kicked points and a try of his own extracted the full punishment.

Following the previous week's capitulation at Bristol, the home fans must have feared the worst as the visitors stretched into an early six-point advantage.

Falcons' fly-half Dave Walder booted a 30-metre penalty after the hosts had been penalised for hands in the ruck. Then, the England summer tourist stroked over a beautiful 45-metre drop-goal inside the first 12 minutes as Newcastle surged forward.

But perhaps the crucial moment of the match came 10 minutes later, as Maggs powered into the defensive line 30 metres out. He collided with Walder, who remained on the ground hurt as play continued.

When the whistle finally went for a Bath penalty, the 23-year-old required at least nine minutes of treatment for a worrying injury to his neck, the rest of the players seeking the sanctuary of the dressing rooms as the rain teemed down.

Upon their return, it was obvious the Falcons had lost their midfield authority despite full-back Michael Stephenson restoring their six-point advantage after Perry had restarted the match with a 30 metre effort to get Bath off the mark.

Perry added two more close-range kicks to tie the scores up as Bath ended the first half on top but they really should have scored when prop David Barnes drove, onbly to see Scaysbrook drop the ball over the try line.

Seven minutes into the second half though, Bath did finally cross the visitors' line. Borthwick stole a Falcons' lineout five metres out and, although possession was slow in coming, the home side still had a three-man overlap from which Balshaw sent Perry crashing over.

The England man's conversion hit a post, but he made amends three minutes later as Newcastle strayed offside and were punished by Perry's fourth penalty.

Bath were virtually home and dry as Newcastle's forwards simply fell apart in the set-pieces and were totally outclassed in the loose.

But the hosts confirmed victory with five minutes remaining from a close-range scrummage.

Lyle picked up from the base and feinted to go one way before lofting the ball back over his shoulder.

Gareth Cooper gathered and scampered towards the line before Maggs crashed through the shattered defence for the clincher.

TEAMS: Bath: Perry, Danielli, Maggs, Balshaw, Voyce, Barkley, Cooper, Barnes (Emms 72), Long (Regan 59), Mallett, Borthwick (El Abd 79), Gabey, Scaysbrook, Beattie, Lyle (capt). Subs not used: Williams, Thirlby, Tindall, Hopcroft.

Newcastle Falcons: Richardson, Botham, Noon, May, Stephenson, (McClure 22), Armstrong, Peel (Ward 52), Balshen (Makin 40), Hurter, Vyvyan, Weir (Hamilton 61), Dunbar, Arnoldn (Devonshire 61), Lam (Taione 65). Subs not used: Charlton.

Referee: Steve Leyshon (Bristol)

Attendance: 7,903