Novos 28, Acklam 20 - Solid Home Win

The squad is batting through a period of unavailability at the moment due to injury, work and holidays. Amazing to see the squad depth with the likes of Tom Cox, Kit Sorenson, Luke Menzfeld, Andy Hall, Louis Matthews, Alex Cleminson, Alex Littlefair not able to play in the pack. Out wide we are even harder hit as we are without Jez Nash, Eoghan Phillips, Pat Smith, Ben Wollerton, Sam Bird, Rich Harrison and Nick Bellamy.

The game was a reasonable spectacle between two sides who wanted to move the ball in very windy conditions. Acklam are perhaps forced into this style as their two best players play on the wing. It created a good match which was competitive all over the park during the 80 mins.

Acklam had a strong start and got round us a couple of times and moved the ball to their danger men. After a nice loop play the scored in the corner to take an early lead.

We answered straight back as Sam Busby won a turnover at the breakdown. Shaun Stewart slotting the penalty to make it 3-5 and we were starting to grow into the game. Josh McFarland and Sean Ramsay were getting us over the gain line and Josh Stacey was to benefit from their line breaks. We drove into Acklam's 22m and we eventually crashed over via Josh Stacey who dived over with a few lads on his back. Unconverted try to put us in the lead 8-5.

Acklam then scored a very good team try as they went through the phases before scoring wide out again. Try unconverted for a 8-10 score line. From the kick off Acklam knocked it on and Josh McFarland showed incredible skill to scoop the ball up whilst at full tilt. We picked and went several times and Acklam conceded a kickable penalty. Captain Pete Twentyman had no hesitation in getting Shaun Stewart to give us three points and the lead again 11-10.

We were now having our best patch of play with Josh McFarland, Ross Radford and George Bambrick doing well at the line out. Daniel Shuttleworth was able to hit his man on every occasion and we pressured their line out into errors. In attack, Sean Ramsay and Josh Stacey were smashing through the Acklam defences and giving space for Jack Hearn at 9 to make breaks around the fringes. Under pressure we went to take a quick tap when one of the Acklam front rowers shouldered our player right in front of the ref. He had no alternative but to send the player to the sin bin for 10 mins.

We opted for a scrum and again Pete Twentyman's decision making paid of as Jack Hearn put in Shaun Stewart via a classic 8, 9, 15. Stewart converted his own try to put us out to 18-10. We weren't finished there as we made Acklam pay for their discretion to go down to 14. The Acklam 10 who had been playing pretty well dropped a simple pass and George Bambrick was on hand to toe it over the line. Lewis Chater won the race to the ball to make the half time score 23-10.

All subs on as Tom Dias came on for Daniel Shuttleworth who had a great first 40 mins. We welcomed back Adam MacDonald who had been missing from the squad after a prolonged spell on the sidelines due to a concussion. Ben Forbes went onto the wing for Dylan Murphy.

Acklam came back into the match with a penalty, 23-13. However, the Novos boys then scored a try of the training ground via a well won line out. The ball was instantly rewound to Josh Stacey who bounced a couple of defenders before being dragged down a metre short. George Bambrick was first to the breakdown and dotted the ball down on the line. Score line stretched to 28-13 and we looked in control of the match.

Our opponents scored one last try just before the final whistle to make the final score 28-20.

Thank you to Callum who I thought had a great day with the whistle - long way from Glasgow to ref a level 7 game. I hope you felt welcome at our club and I enjoyed chatting rugby with you. Think you have real potential as a ref as you were calm throughout, decision making was good for and against us.

Acklam - well played - probably deserved more out of the match. Enjoy watching you try move the ball as you have two fantastic players out wide. Thought your one caused us some problems and your inside backs moved the ball to space well.

Novos lads - thank you for your efforts. A lot of new combinations out there and thought we worked hard throughout. Very pleased with the front row round the park and having five back rowers was also an advantage during the afternoon. Ross Radford had an error free day and put in some great defence. George Bambrick and Sean Ramsay were the pick of the bunch up front however. In the backs, I thought Jack Hearn was very good at 9 with a couple of breaks around the fringes. It was also great to see Connor Taylor play well at 12, an opportunity he has been asking about for some time.

Next week we make the short trip to Gateshead - a few coming back in and a few going out - as is the roller coaster that is availability at grassroots level. Pretty keen to put in a good showing at one of my old clubs.

Great win for the 3's against Tynedale to day - congrats Jack Pellew and his men.

Up the Vos !