Bottom at Xmas

Novos were once again beset with late changes, Chris Fife and James Forbes called up from the 2nds at late notice and missing 12 regulars from the senior squad, Still a side capable of getting the required result took the field.

The first half was all Acklam, they dominated posession with Novos being wasteful in posession at times inviting Acklam to attack at will, defencively Novos were pretty sound and in an opening 40 minutes of little note they had restricted Acklam to just 10 points.

If Novos were to get anything out of the game then they would need to stop gifting Acklam the ball, who were more than willing to run everything back.

Heeding the coaches words, Novos started the second half far brighter and scored a try and great hands from Dale Raine set Rory Diggle away to score in the corner.

Novos pressed further and looked the more likely to score next until a loose kick was fielded and returned by Acklams full back, space appeared in the normally strong defencive line and Acklam scored under the posts.

Novos continued to try and force the game desperate to climb off the foot of the table but the more they tried they started to fall to intercepts and from one such intercept Acklam scored again.

Novos did manage a bright moment when a break from outgoing skipper Andy Borthwick was offloaded to incoming captain Jamie Wallace who was just hauled down short of the line.

With the game ebbing away Acklam got their bonus point with their fourth and final try before the ref called time on the game, the result of which means Novos end 2011 propping up the table.

The most disappointing thing about Novos league position is that there is not a massive gulf in class between us and almost everyone we have played, however what is abundantly clear is that those teams above us are putting in the effort at training whilst at times we haven't done and that shows on the pitch.

The new year sees Novos taking up a Marines PT fitness training programme and access to some all weather facilities, it is essential that these are well attended because we are capable of climbing the table but only if we put in the work midweek.

Man of the Match, who else but outgoing skipper Andy Borthwick