2nds undone by yellow peril in a ten minute blitz

After last weeks horror show at Westoe, Novos needed to regroup and get back to the levels of performance from week one. Another National league club provided the opposition for the 3rd week in a row in the shape of Corbridge (Who are really Tynedale in disguise.. Not sure why, they even referred to themselves as Tyne throughout the game!)

Novos were far more focussed and organised than they were last week and a quick look at the side gave room for optimism, though not quite at full strength.

On another hot September afternoon, Corbridge kicked off and Novos quickly found themselves under pressure, turned over the the ball in contact and Corbridge moved it wide, where their impressive number 10 appeared to fumble but gathered before bursting through to score after about 2 minutes played!

Corbridge maintained the early momentum but thankfully Novos defence though stretched at times managed to hold on until a penalty for holding on in the tackle was awarded and allowed a clearance and a breather for the chubby lads!

The lineouts did function very well all day and Dan Wright and Andy Gardiner were faultless making Gus Grahams errant chucking in appear very good!! Dan secured good ball and the backs finally got some ball in hand and were able to kick again for territory and great pressure from James Parkinson saw the Corbridge winger concede and run the ball into touch.

Novos maintained pressure but couldn’t get through the Corbridge defence so after a good period of pressure only a Simon Dickinson penalty to show for their efforts.

Novos were now growing in stature and finished the half stronger and indeed had they found James Parkinson out wide when the overlap was on would have went in at half time leading – as it was they turned around trailing by 3 – 7.

At half time skipper Chris Fife talked about maintaining concentration levels in defence and to work on taking chances when they were offered. An upset could be on the cards but the performance needed to improve even further.

The 2nd Half started in much the same vain as the first, Corbridge seizing on weak defence and their impressive number ten again exploiting a gap (and possibly a lack of pace to catch him!) to extend Corbridge’s lead to 12 - 3.

In the following 15 minutes Novos played really well, genuinely pressuring Corbridge and if a break by veteran Skipper Chris Fife had fell to a younger man would have scored, as it was the skipper was almost running backwards by the time the cover defence reached him 5 metres short!

Then on 60 minutes disaster struck, Jordan Robinson our hard running and tackling rugby league convert smashed a massive hit on the Corbridge centre – in rugby league the hit comes from the shoulder and in union there has to be an attempt to wrap your arms around. From the touchline and according to Jordan he did use his arms but the referee decided it was a shoulder barge and yellow carded him, which seemed a tad harsh especially given an earlier high tackle from the same (now laid out centre). To be fair to the ref I can see both sides and sometimes a big hit gets the tackler in trouble… Ever since Sam Warburton got a red card in the World cup semi final for a big hit, it always carries an element of risk.

The ensuing ten minutes was disastrous as Corbridge, led by that pesky and talented young outside half Corbridge scored 3 more tries including a 3rd for the number 10.

Novos chased for a consolation but it didn’t come and Corbridge ran out winners by 3 – 31, a slightly flattering scoreline but at the end of the day it further highlights how clinical sides in this league can be if you give them opportunities to score.

Next week Hartlepool Rovers Heughers away for Novos 2nd string, while not a National league club, Rovers 2nd string are well respected and established in this league and will provide another very tough afternoon for an improving Novos squad.