Anyone Get An Ice Machine For Xmas ?

The rugby gods conspired against Novos as Horden won 37-20. Four bad injuries (Luke Menzfeld, Josh Igoe, Lewis Chater and Sam Warren) meant Novos played almost 30 mins a man down. By the end of it all I think we had 13 fit players on the field as Luke Menzfeld played on with a dislocated thumb !

Apologies for delays in posting this report, the second of its kind. Unfortunately, somehow the first one appears not to have been posted !

Despite some key players missing we travelled with a strong squad to Horden and found their pitch to be in amazing condition. Fantastic achievement by the groundsman involved given the recent weather.

After a great warm up we started the game flying and were quickly camped on the Horden line. We bombed a couple of overlaps and were turned over a few times in the first twelve mins. We were made to rue these missed opportunities when Horden went up the other end and scored with what was really their first attack. Horden up 7-0.

The game was a really good contest with the early set piece exchange pretty even but we were controlling territory a bit better than our opponents. Horden tried to kick their way up the field but we counter attacked well and out flanked them during most of our kick returns. One such quick tap from Carl Parkinson eventually led to Johnny Ward going in for an unconverted try 7-5.

On twenty mins Luke Menzfeld sustained what looked like a dislocated thumb and was replaced. The reshuffle completely changed the scrum contest and Horden were now pushing us back at will. However, via some skilled footwork by Alex Littlefair we still didn't lose that many feeds.

Horden then scored a fine try down the touchline closest to their support to make it 14-5.

The boys bounced back though as Lewis Chater and Richard Dodd again gave us field position. Eventually pressure told and Dodd was able to kick a penalty to make it 14-8 with half time closing in. Just before the whistle however Horden were able to bag themselves three points of their own.

Half time Horden up 17-8.

We had to make another change at half time as Chris Ward couldn't continue due to a knee injury. On came Will Doyle for his much awaited debut. Just after the start of the second half we again had to reshuffle as Josh Igoe injured a shoulder and could not continue either. On went Jan Safranek as last cab off the rank as Jez Nash moved from centre to flanker !

Horden started the half the better as we tried to come to grips with all the changes. Pressure turned into points as Horden kicked a penalty to extend to 20-8.

Our lads have plenty of heart and did not let the disruptions halt them, we were determined not to make excuses. We again counter attacked after a wayward Horden kick putting Ward in for his second, converted by Dodd to make it 20-15.

Game on ? Not so fast, Lewis Chater had sustained a knock to the head and we had to play the last 27 mins with fourteen men. Horden took advantage of this and executed two tries perfectly down our vacated wing. The lead now out to 37-15.

Menzfeld strapped his possibly dislocated thumb and agreed to go on as we searched for an unlikely bonus point. However, this joy was quickly usurped as Sam Warren walked past him coming the other way ! So whilst we did keep fourteen on we were actually down to thirteen fit players on the field.

We didn't manage to nick a bonus point but we did score our third try as Sam Busby scorched in to make the final score 37-20.

At the final whistle Horden had hammered us up front after all the changes in the pack. Their kicker had hit 100% and our opponents took every point that was on offer. They thoroughly deserved the win and showed that despite a slow start to the season they are now firing on all cylinders as they look to break into the top four.

To our lads, loads of positives despite all the injuries. We showed great heart to compete against a good side when we were down a man for 27 mins. We scored three tries from 60m+ and should have had 2-3 more in the first fifteen mins when we had them under the pump.

It is all hands on deck this week as we try to bounce back in our home game against Boro. They will be buoyed by our injury crisis but we have great depth at the club. We hope to have Tom Goodman back to sure up the scrum, Ben Merrett to scavenge and link with the backs and the club also look to have secured a new recruit in Josh Wright from Wymondham RFC, where he captained the side from the back row.

So heads up lads, remember it wasn't that long ago that we were beating Consett on the last day to avoid relegation out of this league. We are still fourth, the seconds have just won their league, we are putting out four teams every Saturday and having a great time whilst doing so.

See you all at training as we try to continue the clubs recent progress on and off the field.