Wilkes Kicks Vos To Victory

Squad news - Iain Dodds having a crack at playing hooker, Andrew Steinberg onto the bench, Josh Igoe and Lewis Chater back in after the GNR, Richard Dodd back from holiday, Paddy Sowter onto the bench and Carl Parkinson shaking of last weeks virus to take his place.
Kevin Westgarth took sole charge of this match and had the boys ready to go from the off. After a break from our own half the forwards carried well. After a few phases of play the ball was fed to Lewis Chater who went over in the corner. Jonno Wilkes slotted the conversion from wide out - Novos up 7-0.
In the Battle of the Roundabout our opponents were not going to roll over and they hit back. They scored two tries in quick succession in and around the midfield. So with just minutes to play in the second half Medicals led 12-7.
Another break out from deep by Sam Busby led to some fantastic support play from Wilkes and then by the eventual try scorer Jez Nash. Wilkes again knocked the kick over from the sideline. Novos up 14-12 at half time.
It had been an error ridden first half but we had dominated the scrum, yet were often penalised. At times we looked to take line outs quickly and/orcreated space in the line out only to be asked to take it again. We had made a lot of individual errors from players who rarely make mistakes. In addition, there fly half was finding a lot of space as we perhaps were not working hard enough in defence.
The second half kicked off with an error which put Medicals back on the front foot. Some fine attacks caused us to give away a penalty under pressure. They kicked it to take a 15-14 lead. Medicals then tried to attack from deep but Christian Selkirk won a penalty and took a quick tap. Two passes via Selkirk and Josh Igoe fed Nash in space. He drew the last defender before Busby went over and correctly grounded the ball. Novos back into the lead 19-15.
It was a real see-saw game and Medicals had a purple patch as we were again penalised for having a dominant scrum. In a period of sustained pressure Ben Merrett was yellow carded near our line. Medicals scored two fine tries In the next ten mins making the most of their numerical advantage. Merrett back on with the score at 19-29 only seven mins to play.
Novos is a club with real spirit and the boys upped the tempo in the last five mins as the game really opened up. We moved up the field after a deliberate knock on by a Medicals player. We then made a clean line break via Wilkes who chipped the last defender but was wiped out in a no arms tackle, penalty. The forwards carried hard before the ball was fed to the backs Nash nearly put in Paddy Sowter who was standing in for the injured Chater. We recycled possession and then Joe Ball crashed over in the corner to make it 24-29 with just two mins to play.
From a penalty deep in our 22 with time up Shaun Stewart tapped and went with bodies strewn all over the field. Sowter in off his wing fed the ball to Richard Dodd, miss pass to Busby in space. Sam stood up his opposite man then beat the next defender with a show and a go. In on the fullback who had the angle one him, bang, step of the left and he was able to run the last 30 m untouched. Scores tied at 29-29 with a kick fifteen metres to the side of the posts for the win. Jonno Wilkes showed calmness beyond his years as he kicked the winner 31-29.
Great scenes to avenge our last play defeat of two seasons ago. We will play better this season but the boys showed great heart in in scoring two tries in the last seven mins to nick the win. Gutted for the Medicals boys who perhaps deserved to win. They should be very proud of how they played and they will now start climbing the league based on that display.
Thank you to Tony Manley for reffing the game.
To our boys, a massive thank you from me. Been an incredibly tough 10-12 days, firstly my cousins accident causing him to be paralysed and then the news we may lose five points for an admin error. However, we have bounced back in the best way possible with three wins from three. I wouldn't say I have a smile on my face again but then again the lads know that that is a rare occurrence at the best of times, cheers boys.
Huge game against Boro this week away. There will be changes again as Lewis Chater has dislocated his shoulder and Jonno Wilkes heads off to uni. So get to training and put your name on a shirt as we look to put four sides next weekend.