Newcastle Falcons vs Bristol Prediction: Hosts’ attack should step up a gear

Newcastle Falcons host Bristol Bears in the Gallagher Premiership at Kingston Park Stadium on Friday night (19:45, live on TNT Sports Extra).

I've come up with a couple of Newcastle Falcons vs Bristol predictions in what looks a tough tie for the hosts.

Newcastle Falcons vs Bristol Odds

Unsurprisingly after their winless 2023-24 campaign Newcastle are 100/30 underdogs in their opening match while visitors Bristol are strong favourites at 2/9.

Betfred are offering a price boost on this match and punters can back Bristol to score the first three tries of the match at 3/1 from 11/4.

Team News

Centres Connor Doherty and Sammy Arnold make their Newcastle debuts alongside Tom Gordon in the back row, but fellow summer signings Cameron Neild and Kieran Wilkinson are injured.

Brett Connon, who started 12 of the Falcon’s 18 league matches last season is again at fly-half while number eight Callum Chick captains the side.

Steve Luatua has recovered from injury to start in a strong Bristol line-up although Fijian back-rower Viliame Mata, who arrived from Edinburgh in the summer, misses out.

AJ MacGinty is the starting fly-half for the Bears after the departure of Callum Sheedy and he lines up alongside England international Harry Randall at number nine.

Newcastle +10 @ 11/10

Bristol scored the most tries and points in the Premiership last season and their tally of nine wins in their final 11 matches included an 85-14 rout of Newcastle at Ashton Gate.

The scoreline at Newcastle’s Kingston Park however was closer as Bristol prevailed 21-13 and it could be that we are in for a close and entertaining encounter in this opening-night showdown.

Coach Steve Diamond has spoken about his desire to add more of an attacking edge to the Falcons’ play and that was evident in their final pre-season match last weekend, a 40-39 defeat to Sale in which they scored six tries.

Pre-season performances have to be treated carefully but the intent is there from the Falcons and having been the lowest-scoring team in the league last season they can at least get enough points on the board to stay within a double-figure handicap.

Newcastle stayed within the handicap in seven of their nine matches last season while five of Bristol’s six away wins were by a single-figure margin.

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