The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

We travelled to Hartlepool hoping to bounce back from our defeat at Horden. However, this was not to be so as Rovers ran out deserved winners 30-21.

Pitch conditions were pretty good with a slight breeze across the field. We started the game really well putting into place the things we practised. From an early kick by Richard Dodd we won a lineout deep in our opponents half. We carried the ball well via our forwards prior to Pete Twentyman busting a hole. He off loaded to Bruno Smith who raced in for his first senior try for the club. Smith added a nice conversion to make it 7-0, ten mins gone.

Rovers were up for this and they responded straight away with a try in the corner from a nice kick through by their flyhalf. Conversion missed so Novos in front 7-5.

After 15 mins Novos were dealt a bad blow as Sam Busby turned his ankle in contact and could no longer continue. George Wilson on at nine and we had to reshuffle as Smith went to fullback.

The game was on the line as both teams tried to gain the upper hand. On 18 mins the game was marred by an ugly brawl as a Novos player took out a Rovers jumper in the air. It was an obvious penalty but was not seen. However, what followed next was ugly and not exactly Marquess of Queensberry as Twentyman was punched from behind. This then led to a rather large brawl involving several players from both sides. Sure it will make interesting viewing when we sit down to watch the video footage ! The ref decided to yellow card both captains for not controlling their players. So off Alex Littlefair trudged to the side line with the Rovers skipper. The ref got the two vice captains together and they shook hands (how very English) and the game restarted with a scrum.

We had been playing some pretty decent rugby in the first quarter but completely lost focus after the brawl. We made errors at the lineout when Littlefair was off and Rovers had gained the initiative. Rovers went over twice before the half time whistle to make the score 15-7 at the break.

Half time chat was just about us trying to get back to having fun and doing what we had practised in training. Tommy Goodman entered the fray for his first game since injuring his calf muscle in November.

Rovers tails were up and they showed a real desire throughout the match to get the win. They were the first team on the board and scored a good try from the base of the scrum to stretch their lead to 20-7.

Novos were not giving up and took the fight back to Rovers. After a period of pressure resulting in penalty's we kicked to the corner and drove a lineout over. Iain Dodds appeared with the ball once the players were untangled, conversion added by Richard Dodd. Rovers ahead 20-14.

Tempers were still running high as more words and foul play by both sides went unnoticed. That was until Iain Dodds hit a ruck so hard that the ref felt obliged to show him a yellow card. Further agony stuck when Johnny Ward hurt his shoulder in a tackle and looks like he may be out for a week or two.

The game drifted away from us as Rovers scored two nice tries to stretch their lead to 30-14.

It was a shame that it wasn't last try is the winner as on 80 mins we counter attacked and Bruno Smith jumped on a Richard Dodd chip into the in goal area. Conversion added from wide out by Dodd to make the final score 30-21.

Then we saw the good side of rugby as both players shook hands despite a number of incidents during the game. Rovers were clapped off victorious as they look to head back up the table where I think they belong.

Thanks to the exchange ref Ranbir Dhillion who had travelled from Warwickshire for the match. Unfortunately, it wasn't a great spectacle but this had more to do with the players than the ref.

I did see some positives despite our second defeat in a row. It was great to see Tommy Goodman put a Novos shirt back on. The same can be said about James Parkinson who has returned to the area having last played in our promotion season a couple of years ago. Josh Wright on debut showed that he is a very capable rugby player and looks a great acquisition. Iain Dodds and Josh Stacey put in much improved performances and Alex Littlefair looks like he is back in the form he was all of last season. In the backs Bruno Smith scored his first senior try and Richard Dodd got through the game despite pre game concerns over his hamstring. Further positive news came as we heard Ben Merrett had got through 70 mins for the seconds as he recovers from a back problem.

So we head into a busy eleven days as we take on Medicals this Saturday before our cup semi with Rockcliff on Wednesday at 1900. There will be changes in the backs due to injuries so lets make sure we get to training and put your hand up to take the place of Sam and Johnny.

See you all on Monday.