Much needed win for 1st xv

Shortly after kick off Novos stormed into a 14 0 lead with tries from TBC (Darren Mcrory or Luke Mitchell?) and Matt Miles, who showed typical Yorkshire grit and determination to barge through several would be tacklers to score under the posts. This, according to sources close to the camp, was the result of the most focused warm up in recent Novos history. No balls were dropped (nor even in danger of being harmed in any way shape or form).

Although Novos continued to make line breaks the effects of the warm up seemed to wear off, the odd ball was dropped and no real patterns of play were developed. Barnard got on the scoresheet after Novos were penalised at a succession of rucks and Barnard's prop slotted a penalty from distance.

With the lesser spotted Novos 8 man drive making an appearance a 5 metre scrum led to wild talk of a push over try. Debutant scrum half Joe Stamper, however, had other ideas and flung the ball out to his backs who did something or other and scored through Darren Mcrory/ Luke Mitchell, "I thought it was wheeling a bit" was the excuse given.

With 10 minutes to go to half time and Novos 21 - 3 up all appeared to be going smoothly. However, Jonny Smith fell victim to some vicious neutral shoeing in clash of feet with the ref and Joe Stamper sustained a series of knocks as Novos finished the half defending grimly.

Novos moved Rob Squire to scrum half in place of the injured Stamper for the second half. However, any plans for a dominant second half were put aside as  the Novos rolling sending off made an unwelcome appearance. Chris Ward, Adam Burbridge and Jonny Ward (making his re-debut following Novos capture of one of Division 3 North's leading scorers) spending consecutive time in the bin. Spending time camped on your line with 14 men is a hazardous occupation and Barnard scored a well worked try out wide from the back of a scrum. Immediately forced onto the back foot again perhaps the crucial moment of the game came when Matt Miles (?) and Luke Mitchell (?) combined to hold up a drive over the line. Then from a rare scrap of possession Jonny Ward weaved his way up field to score some much needed points. Mitchell missed the conversion from wide out and flung the tee to an unspecified point on the scenic demesnes grounds. This turned out to be of some relevance as moments later Mitchell himself scored in almost exactly the same spot. Someone taking closer note of proceedings might be able to confirm whether this had any affect on the subsequent conversion attempt.

With victory appearing secure Novos saved their best til last. Another break out of defence saw Rich Harrison cross half way at speed (what speed need not trouble us) and elect to slip an inside ball to Ben Walker. Anyone with a fear of being bored to death by prop forwards telling you about the time they once got the ball in space look away now. Walker, appeared, at least to those hallucinating following half an hour's defence with 14 men, to side step one or two men before setting his bandy legs into whirring mode to outpace the cover defence to score under the posts. Ben assures us that he is going to prove this actually happened with his performances every Tuesday and Thursday at training.

This was a hard fought victory against a very young Barnard side who at one stage were threatening to steal the game. On the warm down/ pleasant stroll back to the club Novos could reflect on this and that there is still plenty of work to be done at training if further victories are to follow.

Contributions/ clarifications welcome below the line as to who actually did what when. As those who have stuck it out to here may have gathered I am a little hazy on the details.