Newcastle crash to play-off defeat

Bath coach Jon Callard has at least three names on the shortlist to boost his first-team squad next season.

Callard, who saw the club book their place in the Zurich Premiership play- off semi- finals with Saturday's victory over Newcastle, has already recruited England and Lions lock Danny Grewcock from Saracens.

But Callard, who also intends developing several of the club's promising young players, has spotted other areas for recruitment. He said: 'Jon Preston is leaving and Dan Lyle hopes to get UK residency, so there could be scope for two overseas players.'

Bath will visit Wasps nex t weekend after holding off a strong Newcastle challenge through tries by flanker Angus Gardiner and centre Shaun Berne. Those efforts and Matt Perry's left boot guided Bath to a 15 -6 lead and though Dave Walder put over three penalties for Newcastle, it a lway s looked like Bath would be closing on Twickenham.

'Both tries were cracking efforts. They showed what we are all about - pace and width,' said Callard. 'But our final pass and execution was poor, I think that two or three more tries would have been a fair reflection.'