Novos in last chance saloon

A Novos side with 11 changes from last week unsurprisingly lost out 36 – 6 to a very good Stockton side.

It all could have been so different for Novos, despite 11 changes it was still a good Novos side that took to the field against a side gunning for promotion.

The opening exchanges were very even, Stockton’s Powerful number 8, Scott Powell showed how dangerous he can be with strong runs but initially he was well shackled by Novos new look back row of Campbell, Walker and Littlefair. With Novos pressure in defence they also started to turn over the ball and a break from Bradford in midfield was halted short and Stockton were penalised from the ensuing ruck and Novos got the first points of the day through a Simon Dickinson penalty.

The game continued in this form until Novos relaxed the pressure from the defencive line and this allowed Stocktons powerful runners space to run in a try and take the lead. Almost immediately Stockton scored again when the same loose defence allowed Number 8 Powell total freedom to run and find an offload and score again.

Novos regrouped and started to find space again with ball in hand and when Mitchell found space through the middle, Novos moved the ball wide, Michael Reidy’s pass would have seen Ben Walker in for the try but it just didn’t come off and all Novos had to show for a reasonable first half was a further Simon Dickinson penalty to turn around 6 – 14 down.

The second half was forgettable, starving Novos of meaningful possession Stockton went on to score a further 3 tries to leave Novos deep in relegation trouble with other results going against them.

Next week sees the visit of Ponteland to Novos for what is now a real MUST win game if we are to avoid a relegation back into Division Two.