'A Rugby Feast'

Novos clad in the new change kit kicked off the game against a red-stripped Bishop Auckland. A knock on from Bishop hands seemed to warn all watching that it could be one of those games!

Novos conceded a free kick from the resulting scrum and were penned into their own half for the next five minutes. However, after six minutes, Novos scored their first points of the day. A wonderful back line move from Eaves and Melrose saw the ball fly out to Leonard who popped the ball up to Griffee. Griffee drew his man on the 25 yard line and played the ball into the thankful hands of 'Bjorn Borg' Forbes who ran it in under the posts. Justin Taylor converted. 7-0 to Novos.

Bjorn scored a second try moments later after he collected a high ball on the half way line. An inside step left the opposition winger red faced as Bjorn ran all the way to score his brace. Lex Leonard too joined in on the fun, as he teased the opposition into thinking he'd put the ball down on his try line for a drop out kick. Only at the last minute did he show his true intention to run! Leonard lost control of the ball on his own line and juggled it between his hands as two Bishop players narrowly missed both him and the ball. Leonard went on a majestic 50 yard run, passed 4 players only to have the resulting pass knocked forward.

A small game of handbags was later exchanged between try scoring hero Bjorn and an opposition player. Unfortunately the furore caused one of the Bishop players to leave the pitch and walk home! Fortunately, he lived on one of the adjacent streets to Sutherland Park!

Novos third try came from an unlikely source, as Bishop Auckland won their own line out only to fail in keeping the ball in hand. As the oval play thing bobbled around on the try line, (for what seemed like an eternity) Alex Milton pounced on the ball, like his badger contemporary, to take Novos' lead to 17-0 at half time.

Griffee scored the bonus point try under the posts as Eaves missed the resulting kick. However, Eaves made up for this by scoring a try of his own in the corner and scoring a tricky looking conversion.

Earlier in the first half, Leonard went on a fantastic run only for him to drop the ball on the line in acres of space. He too, made up for his earlier mistake by joining in on the try scoring fun. Receiving a kick on the 10 yard line, Leonard stepped past seven Bishop players to score the try of the game under the posts. Cries of two hands were wailed to Leonard as he made his way under the Bishop posts - Leonard responded in a jovial fashion whilst holding the ball aloft in a Lion King, Rafiki tribute!

Credit to Bishop Auckland as they never stopped trying - they scored a try half way through the second half. Novos responded well and chalked up two more tries. Griffee and Leonard both getting their second tries of the day. Griffee converted his own try with a drop kick, and Badger Addison struggled with his dropped conversion under the posts as it sailed wide.

Novos climbed to 4th in CANDY LEAGUE DIVISION 2 after this victory and any worries after the first 'game' of the season against Westoe seem like a long time ago now. There were many a good performance from those on display and it goes to show how much strength in depth Novos currently possess - a welcome headache for head coach Magnus Leask.

FORTITER DEFENDIT TRIUMPHANS!