1st XV
Matches
Sat 26 Oct 2019  ·  Durham/Northumberland One
Novocastrians RFC
1st XV
Tries: A Littlefair, J HearnConversions: S Stewart
14
36
Consett

Match Preview

Magnus Leask25 Oct 2019 - 20:47
Share via
FacebookTwitter
https://www.novos.co.uk/teams/

This weekend the first team host Consett for the first time since the 2017-18 season. That fixture ended in a 31-19 win for the visitors with only Josh Stacey, Luke Menzfeld, George Bambrick, Shaun Stewart and Isaac Robinson will be taking the field on Saturday having also played in the previous outing. Six other players are still at the club from that day but are either playing for other teams, injured or unavailable.

We have had some epic encounters against Consett in recent times - the two clubs have shared the last ten fixtures. However, prior to their promotion season we had won four out of the last five. Some of the boys will even remember the fixture in April of 2014 when we were seconds from relegation with Consett ahead on the final play and the Ponteland lads delighted with what they were seeing. Captain that day was Alex Littlefair who rose in the lineout to win the ball on Consett's throw. We recycled the ball phase after phase before Jez Nash scored in the corner to give us a 22-17 win and condemn Ponteland to relegation - beers !

Saturdays opponents are flying high at the top of the table having only dropped one point out of a possible 35 ! The fixture list was kind to them as they have been able to build from the start with wins over Rockcliff, Acklam, Gatehsead, Barnard Castle and Rovers. This set them up for two huge victories over rival promotion candidates South Shields & Westoe then a great result over Northern on Saturday.

Novos are in some what of a different position after a poor result last Saturday to Medicals where we did not show enough balance in our attack. In addition, we sustained injuries to Rich Harrison (broken jaw) and Ben Merrett (everything but his jaw) So you could say it's backs to the wall for the boys and we need to come out fighting.

Squad - Josh Stacey, Daniel Shuttleworth, Luke Menzfeld, Tom Cox, Kit Sorenson, Andy Hall, George Bambrick, Alex Littlefair (v.captain) Paddy Sowter, Sam Devey, Shaun Stewart (captain) Eoghan Phillips, Jack Hearn, Sam Bird, Ben Wollerton, Luke Foster, Craig Eales and Isaac Robinson.

There are a lot of positives despite last weeks injuries and this weeks unavailability. In the pack we see the return of Andy Hall refreshed from his honeymoon and ex club captain Alex Littlefair who missed the first part of the season. In addition, Paddy Sowter returns at nine for an opportunity to prove himself. Off the bench we hope to see the debut of Craig Eales who has impressed since his arrival at the club and perhaps Pat Smith. A recent acquisition from Paviors - our second player from this club after Tom Winning had a great season before returning to Nottingham. Should Pat's registration not come through in time his position will go to Isaac Robinson who was unavailable last weekend.

I'm looking forward to the weekend with nervous anticipation as there is of course the other matter of the All Blacks vs England. In 41 matches England have won 7 times with NZ needing 15 points to go past 1000 in this fixture. I think the two starting 15's are as close as they have ever been but I think NZ finishers are stronger when they go to the bench. Will both results go against the odds for a Novos and England win ? Bookies beware - adamant that whoever wins this match will win the whole thing.

Enjoy the weekend, whoever you are cheering for. Up the Vos !

Novocastrians RFC

Novocastrians RFC

Sutherland Park
Newcastle upon Tyne
Tyne and Wear
NE7 7SZ

View with google maps

Durham/Northumberland One Fixtures

Sat 26 Oct 2019KO: TBC
Hartlepool Rovers
32
Barnard Castle
14
Sat 26 Oct 2019KO: TBC
South Shields Westoe
49
Gateshead
0
Sat 26 Oct 2019KO: TBC
Stockton
P
Horden and Peterlee
P
Sat 26 Oct 2019KO: 15:00
Middlesbrough
22
Medicals
20
Sat 26 Oct 2019KO: 15:00
North Shields
7
Whitley Bay Rockcliff
32
Sat 26 Oct 2019KO: 15:00
Northern
52
Acklam
18

Head-to-Head

Sat 17 Feb 2018
Novocastrians RFC
Novocastrians
19
Consett
31
Sat 28 Oct 2017
Consett
24
Novocastrians RFC
Novocastrians
10
Sat 21 Jan 2017
Novocastrians RFC
Novocastrians
25
Consett
29
Sat 10 Sep 2016
Consett
13
Novocastrians RFC
Novocastrians
38
Sat 19 Dec 2015
Novocastrians RFC
Novocastrians
29
Consett
22

Appearances

Consett
D Adams
D AdamsOpenside Flanker
7
K Darby
K DarbyOpenside Flanker
7
C Petch
C PetchHooker
7

Most Points

Consett
N Cook
N CookFull Back
77
A Paulus
A PaulusFly Half
49
A Pearson
A PearsonInside Centre
45

Most tries

Consett
A Pearson
A PearsonInside Centre
9
A Paulus
A PaulusFly Half
8
N Cook
N CookFull Back
3

Match details

Match date

Sat 26 Oct 2019

Kickoff

TBC

Meet time

13:30

Competition

Durham/Northumberland One

League position

1
Consett
10
Novocastrians
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

1st XV Sponsor - Infinity Car Care
Shirt Sponsor - Apta Vita Physiotherapy
Club Sponsor - Audi Newcastle
Shirt Sponsor - Carlin Hall