Travelling Fans Cheer Novos To Win

It has been a difficult few weeks in the life of this Novos coach with an unrivalled injury list, suspensions and players unavailable for personal reasons. Ways were found to get 18 lads out - 4 props in the front 5, flanker to 12 then to ten, winger to twelve... to me, to you ! Debuts for Wilton, Bairstow, Mack.

So it was that Novos crossed the Chilli Roundabout with an enlarged squad as they gave some youngsters/new players a taste of the first team match day experience. In addition, the Alicks turned up in great numbers, so with our injured players adding their voices it was with a very vocal support behind them Novos started the derby match.

As with tradition Novos allowed their opponents to gain an immediate advantage as Medicals went up 0-5 on the back of a dominant scrum. Our lads were giving their all but Medicals tactic of putting two front rowers in one shirt was doing them proud.

Novos finally got into the game as try scoring machine Jonny Ward dotted down for his customary try. 5-5 after twenty mins.

In what was to be a to and fro game all afternoon, Medicals then gained ascendancy with some pick and drive play. The crossed again to take a 5-12 lead. However, it was then that man of the match Lex Leonard added his name to the score sheet. By this time Leonard had already laid waste to several Medicals players with and without the ball. The moment of the match came as we turned the ball over on our own 5m line, two passes (who taught them that) and Lex was off. A fend in the face here and a swerve there he was left with just Medicals last man. He fainted to run straight over the would be tackle but instead did an in and away to leave the defender flat footed. Try, conversion added by 6/12/10 Matt Kilgore. Half time score 12-12.

A quick chat about life and we were underway again. This time it was Novos who went on the attack from the whistle. Some great team play finally saw Ward go in again with Kilgore kicking another goal. Novos up 19-12, hoping to kick on.

A yellow card for debutant Bairstow and Medicals came back into the game with two penaltly's. Novos lead cut to 19-18. Only for a moment though as Kilgore responded in kind to make it 22-18 Novos with ten mins left.

The game continued to be an end to end game with neither side choosing to tighten things up. After a Novos attack it was Medicals turn to counter attack as they went on an 80m rampage with Novos still down to 14 men. Just when they looked to score a wayward pass bounced off a few knees only for Medicals wing to pick it up and crash over. Thankfully for Medicals, Novos team manager was missing on this occasion so it was Coach Leask with the flag ! After some guilty thoughts Novos coach indicated to the ref that a try had been scored ! What ?! Medicals lead 23-22 with six minutes to go, Novos back to 15 however.

So it was that a great game had one last final moment. Novos were camped on Medicals line for the next few mins as wave after wave was smashed back by Medicals defence. Finally, Novos unlocked the door and Kilgore limped over the line and put Novos ahead 27-23 with three mins to go !

Medicals did not roll over however and nearly scored but for Ward who stopped their final attack with a timely near intercept.

Novos win.

A great game for the crowd with four lead changes, two coming in the final six minutes of the match. Novos record back to back away wins against Medicals having won this fixture six months earlier. A real team effort given the amount of players playing out of position or new to the team.

Thanks to Dave Charlton for reffing. Players were lucky to have such a good ref at our level who helped the players throughout and as such laid the platform for an open and entertaining game. Although I don't think the Medicals six would agree with that statement.

This week, we have four fixtures so all aboard the N-Train as we play Morpeth, Corbridge, Berwick and Wallsend.

Thanks to all the players this week for helping out, Callaghan coming back into the first team set up, the new lads for putting heart into a Novos shirt for the first time but also to Skip Littlefair for playing under such emotionalal conditions !

A very happy Coach.