Novos 24, Consett 29 - Last Minute Defeat For Vos

Conditions were ideal for two teams who love to run the ball in what promised to be a quick and entertaining match.

Novos started on fire with surging runs from Sam Rowntree and Jez Nash. With some great team play we swiftly went on the attack after receiving the initial kick off. We worked our way into Consett's 22m and they conceded a penalty for offside. Greg Humphreyson slotted the kick to make it 3-0 with just 2 mins gone.

Consett were the next to score after some sustained pressure as we miss read a play and one of their backs went in untouched under the posts. 7-3 Consett.

Then came a big moment in the match when we turned over a Consett lineout. We attacked around the corner and Nick Arbuckle was picked up and thrown to the floor. Arbuckle to his credit got to his feet which propbably helped the Consett player from receiving a red card. A yellow card was issued and we would enjoy a man advantage for 10 mins.

We kicked to the corner and then carried the ball, shortening the Consett defence. Humphreyson executed a cross field kick which nearly went into the hands of Ben Wollerton. However, in a Simon Zebo like moment Wollerton volleyed the ball ran past the sole defender to regathering and score. Try unconverted for a Novos lead 8-7.

We were dominating the exchanges at this time with line breaks by Nash and Sam Busby. Eventually, the ball was shifted to the blind side where Arbuckle took to players out of the game and off loaded from Matt Bradford to score. Conversion added from out wide by Humphreyson to make it 15-7.

During this period of dominance we should really have put the game to bed however Consett instead grabbed the initiative. First of all their 10 grabbed an intercept try when it looked like we were about to make a clean line break ourselves. That's rugby I guess as we were under our posts instead. Novos still up 15-14 when Consett started to find some rhythm and were getting over the gain line. Rowntree did his best to stop this happening as he delivered the hit of the year on their 6 with a fair hit that stopped play. Thankfully the Consett player was fit to continue and his team ended the half on attack. From a series of attacks we were probably lucky to not concede a penalty try. However, it didn't matter as the Consett centre went in under the posts to give Consett a 21-15 half time lead despite then feeling being that we had dominated the half.

Annoyed by the deficit we started the second half well and were rewarded with a Humphreyson penalty after a high shot. Consett still ahead 21-18. Then it was our opponents turn to attack as the game ebbed and flowed. They also kicked a penalty to make it 18-24 with ten mins to play.

Novos looked to have won the game when Josh Igoe returned a kick and the ball was then moved back the opposite way. Busby looked up with a mismatch in front of him and raced in to score in the corner. Humphreyson knocking over a touch line conversion to put us up 25-24 with just mins to play.

Consett did not allow us to kill off the closing minutes and instead counter attacked. The decisive moment came with a holding on penalty at half way. The Consett 10 then pulled off a greath kick with the ball going out 5m from our line. Despite some desperate defence we were unable to keep them out and they went over for the winner.

It was a pretty good game to watch and it was a shame there had to be a loser as the game was incredibly tight. In the end however our opponents deserved the win as they made the most of their opportunities. We perhaps left some points out on the pitch as well as conceded the odd soft score.

Thank you to the ref - M Marriott, a good performance despite all the yelling from the sideline. Couldn't complain about much as he was involved in a goody game of rugby between two sides wanting to move the ball.

Consett boys - seemed an appropriate occasion to give your whiteboard back. Not exactly the Ranfurly Shield but you claimed back your log of wood after we have edged some close games between the two clubs.

Next week we play at home to Horden where we will try and get some possession and run them of their feet. Our last outing against them was a mismatch in possession stakes. One which we will have to try rectify if we are to get a performance out of the game.

See you at training.