Novos win tough battle

Dont be fooled by the scoreline, this was anything but a routine win for the league leaders who were made to work very hard by a tough and uncompromising Consett side who never gave up.

Novos for a change were fairly settled with no alterations to the side selected last week, they arrived early and were well prepared for a tough game against another unbeaten side.

Fly Half Rich Harrison kicked off and the chase was from Novos was good but Consett used the wind to good effect to put Novos deep into their own 22, Matty Bradford scuffed clearance was fielded By Consett's huge centre who drove back and Novos were pinned back. Novos defended stoutly and some big hits from Will Trick and Dan Turnell kept Consett at bay until a mix up allowed the Consett number 8 to burrow over after 10 minutes of solid defending, the conversion missed.

A poor start but Novos reaction was to up the ante, Harrisons kick off was recovered by the impressive Sam Dixon and Novos set a series of drives from Mitten and Eddy Yuill before Jason Mcdermott found Harrison who worked a switch midfield with Chris Donabie, the diminutive bearded scotsman advancing to the Consett 22 before being stopped, Consett giving away a penalty gave Novos an early chance to narrow the gap and up setpped McDermott to slot the penalty. Receiving the kick off Mitten returned and Novos mixed forward driving play with slick back movement to advance again, again Consett were penalised and again McDermott slotted an easy 3 points to give Novos a lead.

Novos were hitting their stride now and a great run from Mitten was offloaded to John Addison who drove forward, Harrison switched the back line to attack Consett's blindside and Paul Roberts was on hand to finish a strong move to score.

Novos ended the half in control and Matty Bradford stormed in for a second try following more good work from the pack which set up a platform to move the backs wide and Richy Moat with the assist.

The second half started worse than the first for Novos, after pressuring from
The kick off Novos made a complete mess of a driving maul in the Consett 22, the clearance from Consett saw a lineout bizarrely awarded to Consett, while fortunate with the award there was nothing fortunate about what followed, Consett won the lineout and span the ball wide for their winger to run a try in under the posts.

Novos picked up again and began playing with more composure and a barnstorming run from Will Trick and an off load to rich Harrison saw Novos cross for a third try.

Consett pressed but could find no way past some heroic defence from Novos and Glenn fife stole an incredible turnover on the line to set Novos away, 10 phases later Richy Moat scampered away to score Novos fourth try and give Novos a bonus point win and with it the last unbeaten record in the league.

Plaudits should be awarded plaudits for a gutsy display, making Novos work for every single point. Novos were not at their best but still managed a bonus point win and this will stand them
In good stead for next weeks big game against Gateshead.

It's shaping up to be a good season for the 2s and next week will go a long way to showing just how successful we can be. Should be a cracking game for anyone not going to Stockton to watch the 1sts.