Marvellous Melrose ends cup blues with illusive Cup win

The earlier meet time greeted us with menacing weather with dark clouds threatening overhead. The lads seemed to have the stoic expressions on their face, no one even accepted a free rub down from Matt Freeman.
The usual pre final routine ensued, starting with the photo, where the gym suddenly resembled a dressing room from a shady Bangkok drag show (I suspect). Ben Kelly and James Bass (first mention of the match report) were in the corner applying fake tan to each other. Ben Forbes was taping up his head, in fear that people wouldn’t recognise him in the picture. Several other lads were attempting to squeeze Greg Humphreyson into the tighter of his gentleman corsets, all the while Luke Mitchell and Matthew Bradford with in the corner listening to the Radio 4 and doing the Guardian Crossword. Prior the photo Billy Porter was so adamant that he should be on the front row, he decided to take the chair with him when he went to get his phone. He did not realise there were a dozen identical chairs 3 foot to his left, which were used to fill his vacant spot, and despite a diva fit, Billy found himself at the back row, where I dare say he belongs.
After the photo the entourage began to depart from Seghill, excluding Morgan Faulkner who was late. Luckily Alex Milton (assistant manager on a trial basis) volunteered to wait for him. Our minds were put at ease when we drove past him on the way out of Novos, looking dazed and confused and as if he had slept in a skip the night before, student accommodation these days.
After the short trip to Seghill, the lads had plenty of time to relax, fuel up and slowly get ready. It was also fortunate that we appeared to have the entire North of England’s supply of bananas in the changing room with us.
There was a lot of nervous energy as we began to warm up, and the more experienced members of the club were keen to temper any anxieties. The lads were reminded to treat the game as any other, and that discipline was under the microscope and their performance reflected upon them and the club, but more over they were reminded about their form and camaraderie which had seen them so well throughout the season. The ultimate message was to be patient and play for each other, but mainly for Ben Melrose.
The warm up itself was intense and focused, possibly the best of the year, however we all know from past performances that that counts for very little. Yet we seemed more self-assured and confident that usual, which we brought onto the field at kick off.
From kick off we took the game by the scruff of the neck and dominated the possession and territory and denied Alnwick any say in the game for the first 10 minutes. After some intense pressure we found ourselves with an attacking lineout in Alnwick’s 22. Following an initial stunt and peel, we found quick ball, which Greg Humphreyson looked to spin wide, before spotting a gap and ghosted through to dot down under the stick from 20 metres. 7-0.
Alnwick woke up after that, and tried to get their big carriers in the game with success, making some good yardage down the right wing and into our 22. What ensued was the finest 27 minutes of defending I have seen from a Novos team, as they repeatedly frustrated Alnwick attempted to score from set piece and open play, holding them up over the line on one than one occasion. Our penalty count wasn’t especially high; however, we were still lucky to have a full 15 throughout that period of pressure. Eventually Alnwick found a way through, after a bouncing ball led to our inside defence to become isolated. 7-7.
Despite conceding it did give us a chance to address the territorial imbalance, which we did with a sweeping move from one side of the pitch to other, culminating in Matt Freeman executing a fine cut out pass to put Morgan Faulkner one on one with his opponent which he won. 14-7 after 34 minutes.
We looked to get onto the attack again before half time, as Ben Kelly made a slicing break in the mid field, and was ably supported by his fellow sun bedder James Bass (2nd mention in the match report). Unfortunately, Ben executed the worst inside pass in history (three foot behind at ankle height) which meant James (3rd mention in the match report) had to check his run and dive on the ball. A stroke of luck came when an Alnwick player attempted to turn over the ball from the side of the ruck, resulting in a penalty. Billy Porter, seeing an opportunity, tapped and went, leaving the retreating defence in a pickle as they decided whether to tackle him early or not. By the time they had decide he was already under the sticks and Novos were up 21-7.
The half time talk was used to prevent over excitement, and to refocus us on the remaining 40 minutes. If we kept the score tight with 15 minutes to go, we had the legs to win. Unfortunately, it was Alnwick who started the half better, with some real go forward in the loose and strong clearing out at ruck time. They were rewarded with a score after 5 minutes leaving the score at 21-14.
This served as a real wake up call, as we didn’t want to slipped behind from a winning position. We did start to improve, and from a scrum (which both sides took turns in dominating throughout the match) Joe Ball appeared to have been fluffed a back row move due to some indecision, decided to do several tight circles before opting to go blind and executing a text book two on one to put Ben Forbes into acres of space. Forbesy still had plenty to do, however, he ghosted around two before swerving round the last defence to score a fine 60 metre effort. 28-14.
Our fitness started to tell after 60 metres, and our confidence grew with time. Greg Humphreyson opting for an ambitious cross field kick after some fine forward work in the tight had sucked in defenders. It was recovered by Alnwick on the bounce, however their winger was given no time to react as Ben Forbes pounced on him and forced the ball loose, only for Andrew Steinberg to scoop up and score in the corner, in a bizarre twist. 33-14.
The confidence took another step up, when we started to get the advantage at the maul, and proceeded to get a push on in an attacking position. The ball was pulled wide and Ben Kelly was given his 15 minutes of fame, which, unfortunately, was caught on camera, as he made a break in midfield before offloading one handed out of the tackle to James Parkinson who ran a perfect support line. Kelly quickly resumed normal service by dropping the next two passes and getting subbed.
With the game all but won, the intensity didn’t drop, and Novos succeed in getting one more try at the death, when Oli Dearden humbly accepted an inside past from Greg Humphreyson to crash over from 10 metres.
With the final whistle blowing, Novos had won 47-12 and went up for their medals, and Ben Melrose held the trophy aloft. However, celebration soon turned to scandal and Melrose delivered a foul mouth speech filled with expletives, to the great and good of the Northumberland County and women and children. However, it wasn’t all bad, James Bass (4th mention of the report) got chatted up by him opposite man during the game. He was asked if he was Quade Cooper look alike, before he slipped his phone number into his sock.
The final whistle brought more than just the result it brought relief, elation, redemption and satisfaction. This had been a long time coming, after so many finals and missed opportunities, the victory was all the sweeter, and it could not had happened to a better bunch of players, who worked so hard all season, and have another trophy to show for it. No one is more deserving than Ben Melrose, who has been working tirelessly for the past 3 years, and has had little to show for it, until now. It is not fully appreciated what he does behind the scenes, however this trophy will serve a thank you from the lads.
I would say the team performance was the most complete of the season, as everyone worked tirelessly for the full 80 minutes, and it seems unfair to single individuals out. However, Andrew Steinberg was a colossus in the scrum, and the loose (with or without the ball) and thoroughly deserved his man of the match award. Ben Kelly had his finest game of the season so far, and will be dining out on that offload for the next 10 years. Greg Humphreyson offered a cool head which has been vital all season, as well as bringing a genuine attack threat. The Young guns of Billy Porter, Morgan Faulkner, and Matt Freeman played with the experience of veterans and made life difficult for the opposition.
We also thank Alnwick, for a well fought game, played in the best spirit of the game. They ran hard and asked some difficult questions of us, more over they were gracious in defeat and genuine in their congratulations which shows some class from a great club, and we look forward to next year.
How back to the league, and securing a place in Candy 1 next season, and building towards our next final in the Candy Cup. COYS2.