More Than What We Budgeted For

Only seven players from the first game against Darlington took the field in the return leg. Having lost 57-7 last time the goal was to try and get a four try bonus point !

Eighty minutes later a gallant Novos side trooped of Sutherland Park having given their all and were only minutes away from getting a five point bonus win that would have condemned Ponteland to relegation.

It may have come late in the season but the club has put out a fantastic squad of players in the run in. Some new signings, promotion of players from the twos and the return of other players have led to the club fielding strong sides against Bishop Auckland, Stockon and now Darlington. We can consider ourselves unlucky to not have won all three of these fixtures.

I am afraid a lot of the details have been erased from memory due to alcohol intake over the weekend !

However, Novos matched Darlington in the set piece and perhaps had the edge in the game outwide as well. Tactics seemed to work as we headed into the middle in the first half and then try to attack wide in the second half.

Every Novos player put in a terrific shift from the engine room to the pace out wide. Special mention should go to The front row who put a 80 min shift in, Sean Ramsay and Ben Merrett turning ball over consistently, Scott Elliott looking like a player of star quality, Richard Dodds becoming a real leader in the back line and Dan Bollado playing well in the somewhat unfamiliar role of full back.

Whilst the score finished 30-27 to Darlington. Some of their players thought that we deserved to win the match, having the better of it for 65 mins.

Tries went to Elliott (2),Bollado and Forbes with Stewart adding a conversion.

Thanks to Andy for being the whistle blower. We hope to see him at Novos again soon.

The crowd were treated to a great match from both sides played in good spirit. No one can deny how much effort Novos are putting in an attempt to stay in this league.

We set out to get a bonus point and ended up with two ! We go into the last few weeks still just one win away from catching Stockton who remain one place above us in the league. Ponteland to beat them this week ?? Providing we beat Gateshead that is !

Back to my old club this Saturday which will bring some sadness due to the passing of one of their Alicks in the weekend. A timely reminder that the friends we make in rugby are friends for life. My thoughts are with some old friends in what will be a difficult week for them all.