Newcastle (0) 8
Try: Miller
Pen: Miller
Bristol (17) 28
Tries: Linklater, El Abd, Elliott
Cons: Barnes 2
Pens: Barnes 3
Newcastle produced their worst display of the season at the end of a turbulent week that witnessed the departure of director of rugby John Fletcher.
Bristol scored after just 90 seconds, with Scott Linklater going over for a try converted by Ed Barnes.
Joe El Abd added a second before Newcastle skipper Phil Dowson and Linklater were sinbinned for fighting.
Rob Miller went over for Newcastle's only try after the break but Anthony Elliott's intercept try sealed the win.
Newcastle caretaker coach Steve Bates:
"It's been an eventful week, but we're professional sportsmen. These things happen and you have to absorb them and move on.
"I didn't think there was any hangover among the players from the week, but it wasn't the result we were looking for.
"A couple of refereeing decisions didn't go our way and I thought we should have had a penalty try. Had the referee seen it differently, it would have been 20-15 and not 20-8 and we could have gone on to win the game from there.
"Bristol are an attritional side with a big set of forwards and we just couldn't get our hands on the ball in the first half and everybody got a little bit ragged in the second half, but there were positives we can take out of the game.
"We created a lot of opportunities in the second half but just didn't turn them into points."
Bristol coach Richard Hill:
"It was a bit of a risk to stick Dan (Ward-Smith) straight back in without giving him an A game as preparation.
"But for him to come back in straight away and play like that was outstanding.
"Having him and Shaun (Perry) back playing is a big plus for us and I would back the pair of them to force their way back into the England reckoning for the tour to New Zealand."
Newcastle: May, Visser, Dillon, Shaw, Rudd, Miller, Dickson, McDonnell, Thompson, Hayman, Perry, Sorenson, Dowson, Woods, Winter.
Replacements: Vickers, D. Wilson, Swinson, Williamson, Charlton, Phillips, A. Tait.
Bristol: L. Arscott, Elliott, Higgitt, Cox, T. Arscott, Barnes, Perry, Crompton, Linklater, Hobson, Winters, Hohneck, Salter, El Abd, Ward-Smith.
Replacements: Regan, Clarke, Budgett, Blowers, Thomas, Strange, Barden.
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth (RFU).
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