Barbarians hit form

After a difficult opening month to the season that has seen lots of unavailability, injuries and late cry offs have a very negative effect on the Barbarians performances and results, it was pleasing to be able to name a strong squad from selection last week. However, we still had 4 cry offs during the week including two separate fly halves and a great north run related knee problem for our inside centre, But the winner this week goes to our 2nd row Neil Spence deciding to move to Tenerife on Saturday Morning and crying off at 12:10! We also had to contend with losing Full Back Matty Bradford to the first team!

So Novos again shuffled the pack and cobbled together a useful side Jason Mcdermott stepped in at ten and Davy Cavanagh filled in at scrum half, New signing Michael Reidy stepped in to the 2nd row and Jamie Diggle moved from back row to wing with Richy Moat taking Bradford’s 15 shirt.

A disrupted start saw Novos having to move to a school pitch, losing a few on the way who thankfully arrived about 15 minutes before kick off. Sunderland looked a huge side with some backs looking the same size as their forwards, so even prior to the kick off it was obvious they had a forward orientated game plan based on kicking for territory and using their size to bully Novos backwards through Mauling and Scrummaging. They were to be thwarted by a resilient and stubborn Novos pack who contained the heftier opponents in the scurmmage and consistently held firm around the fringes tackling everything that moved.

The returning Clive Carlin and Stew Wilson on the flanks were doing a great job, always first to the tackle and pressuring Sunderland possession. From one monster Wilson hit Novos turned possession over and got the ball out to the backs, Jason Mcdermott’s half break gave Mark Cooper space and an overlap created to set Jamie Diggle away to score the opening try converted by Jason Mcdermott.

Sunderland tried the same tactic but this time it was a John Addison tackle turned over by Dave Cavanagh, Dave Addison broke blind before passing to Micheal Mitten who drew the winger and sent Rory Diggle racing away to score from halfway, the conversion missed. Having soaked up so much pressure Novos found themselves 0-12 up through breakaway tries, with confidence returning and a definite superiority out wide, Novos game plan was to use pace. Now Novos began to maintain possession, good running from Michael Mitten and Micheal Reidy in the forwards set up another good platform for Cavanagh and Mcdermott to create space, James Parkinson this time breaking before passing to Full Back Richy Moat who showed an exquisite dummy to score in the corner with virtually no space to work in.

With half time approaching, Novos weren’t finished and from the kick off Novos moved the ball wide and Jamie Diggle steamed over from halfway to give him his second try and Novos a very healthy 0 – 24 lead at half time with the bonus point already bagged.

Sunderland changed a few things at half time, rolling on some even bigger players including ex Mowden Park number 8 Tony Irwin who proved a handful (and a foot full later as well as his frustration would show!)
Sunderland used Irwin to batter Novos but he was well shackled by a tight defence and Novos continued to find turnover ball and play good disciplined rugby to work their way back up field.

On 50 minutes Paul Jackson returned to action after nearly a year of knee injury problems on for Andy Croft at prop – hopefully his injury woes are behind him, he is certainly needed with props like hens teeth at the minute.

Sunderland’s attritional play was causing some injury concerns, with Clive Carlin and Micheal Mitten both in the wars before Mitten eventually gave way to allow Brian Keith on to the wing with Jamie Diggle’s return to the back row.

Brian Keith fielded a clearance kick from Sunderland deep in Novos own half and put in a monster clearance kick to pin Sunderland deep in their own 22, they won the resultant lineout and another clearance kick saw Micheal Reidy back covering he ran the ball back beating several defenders before off loading for Cavanagh to put the ball wide, Brian Keith found space and off loaded to Dave Addison who took a leisurely fast walk (fast for him) into some space before speed wobbles caught up. A high tackle on Rory Diggle resulted in a penalty and was swiftly followed by another, this time to James Parkinson before several Sunderland players decided to use Jamie Diggle as a foot mat as their frustration began to take over. Jason Mcdermott ran the resulting penalty throwing to outrageous dummies to score and give Novos enough breathing space to be sure of victory at 0 – 29 with 10 minutes to go.

Sunderland won a series of penalties and after a period of sustained pressure were able to get a consolation score that their endeavour and effort deserved on 70 minutes through their stand off. As the game drew to a close Novos scored again this time another Reidy break found Andy Gardiner in space who galloped over from 20 yards, out pacing a winger en route!

This was a good solid performance from Novos who were much changed from previous weeks, Not many sides in our league will travel to Sunderland and win so convincingly. The success of the 2nds this season is entirely in our own hands. Imagine how much better we could be if we all trained together and made a commitment to be available regularly and had less crying off midweek.

Berwick in 2 weeks time at home is a good opportunity to build on this performance, which puts us top but with Gateshead having a game in hand it is a game we need to win, there are 4 training sessions between now and then, lets see the 2nds well represented and committing to perform as we should in the league this year.

Man of the Match – Jason Mcdermott, an assured display out of position at fly half ran the back line and great communication and also Micheal Reidy, who looks an excellent player, for a debut full of hard tackling and strong running.