2nds aiming high

A great weekend for the 2nds saw them win over 2nd placed Gateshead their 4th game on the trot and with it open up an 11 point gap at the top of the River Aln league with almost half of the season completed.

This was billed on Gateshead’s website as an early title contender match, It is too early to even think about that with 10 games to go, there is a lot of rugby still to be played before the season end. However, it was clear that the winner of this game would have a big advantage going into the 2nd round of league fixtures.

Novos lost players to the first team, James Bass replacing the ill Matty Bradford, thankfully Head Coach Rob Jones agreed to bench for the 1sts so as not to disrupt further when Jack Watkins knee gave out. Also missing were half backs Si Dickinson and Jason Mcdermott along with the hairy talisman Chris Donabie and cunning linguistic prop James Forbes.

Still Novos were able to name a strong squad for the game and had another advantage in playing on the big pitch which suits the style of play, there was a debut at full back for our latest new signing, Fijian Jaso Yagomate, or Jazz for short and Sam Dixon had to return from the 1sts as his registration hadn’t completed on time, so it wasn’t all bad news!

Gateshead always have a big strong pack and they were massive, they also looked confident, Opting to receive the kick off Gateshead took the wind and kicked off, Novos allowed the ball to bounce into touch.. Not the start that they wanted at all, Gateshead secured good lineout ball and set up a driving maul to the Novos 22, Novos set the tone defensively by driving Gateshead back with centres Luke Mitchell and Matty Lamb aggressively tracking their opposite numbers and putting in the hits, this allowed Novos to turn over the ball and gain some valuable possession. With Ball Novos looked dangerous all day, getting the ball wide regularly and early in the game wasted several good try scoring opportunities, Rory Diggle going close but dropping the ball over the line.

It was on the opposite wing that the first try was scored, Ben Adcock finishing well after a series of forward drives through Mitten and Dixon allowed Chris Fife to release the backs, Richy Harrison worked a miss move through the centres and Jazz Yagomate drew the full back superbly with great hands to release Adcock for the score.

This time from kick off Mitten returned the ball allowing space for a break down the blind side where Diggle went on a long run, Sam Dixon hacking on and almost beating the full back before being tackled, First Mitten and then Dave Addison surged toward the line before quick ball out to Harrison who distributed wide through hands again with Jazz scoring on his debut to give Novos a 10 – 0 lead, again the conversion was missed by Mitchell from a tough angle.

Gateshead were sensing they needed to score and having been dominated for much of the half came back fired up and when Novos held on at a ruck their number 8 took a quick tap and ran for what looked a certain try, John Addison had other ideas and a crunching tackle stopped a certain score, Gateshead recycled and Novos were forced to defend, Gateshead did get over the line but an unbelievable tackle and mid air turn over from Matty Lamb prevented Gateshead grounding the ball and was more evidence of Novos commitment and strong defence. Rory Diggle, adjudged to have tripped a Gateshead player in the build up, the referee yellow carding the winger and awarding another penalty, Gateshead took the scrum, couldn’t move the Novos eight and Alex Hinds tackle allowed Novos to turn over and clear through a Mitchell boot.

Micheal Mitten was forced off with an arm injury and replaced by Dan Turnell, Mitten off to A and E, the latest Novo in the treatment room with tissue damage and a break that had been unchecked for a while, ruling the foul mouthed number 8 out for 6 – 8 weeks!.

Novos played out the half with 14 men before Chris Fife decided enough was enough and put the ball out of play.

At half time the talk from stand in skipper Dave Addison was around taking opportunities and cutting the turnovers because we ran off on our own, appealing to the referee was unlikely to help us and we needed to start the 2nd half strongly because giving Gateshead a sniff would make them very dangerous.

From the kick off Novos ran the ball back at Gateshead and a run from Chris Ogle was halted and in the tackle he was hurt with what looked like a bad ankle sprain – likely to rule him out for 3 weeks, I would like to record our thanks to Gateshead Skipper Jason Dale, as the game continued it was clear Chris was hurt and he immediately stopped playing to look after him before the ref blew the whistle to stop play, A good sporting gesture and good to see. Veteran Simon Spencer completed his surprise comeback having been lured with a false promise of a game for the 4ths to replace Ogle in the front row.

The injury seemed to effect Novos and some missed tackles gave Gateshead a chance, a drive from the prop was stopped and Novos in desperation Novos committed a penalty foul which Gateshead kicked to get them on the score board at 10-3. Not what Novos were looking for at all!!

Paul Roberts got on in place of Rory Diggle who had to make a mad dash to work!!

Novos applied pressure from then on and played probably the best 30 minutes of rugby so far this season, Alex Hind scored a peach of a try from a well worked shortened line out to score under the posts, the youngster looking dangerous every time he got on the ball picked a great line to collect a pass from Harrison to blast over from 15 yards. This time the conversion was easy for Mitchell to make it 17 – 3

The bonus point was secured within 5 minutes when Clive Carlin scored with his first touch after another Yagomate break sent Lamb and Mitchell away, Lamb passing to Ben Adcock who took off and seemed certain to score before getting splattered by the Gateshead full back, he managed an offload to Chris Fife and the oldest Nipper on public record inexplicably passed to the predatory Carlin when already over the line to deny himself a score Carlin using all of his experience to out wit his team mate by calling pass, in the knowledge to know Nipper’s always do as they are told! Mitchell added the extra’s for 24 - 3

The best was saved until last Gateshead kicked off and went deep, Turnell caught it and passed it straight out wide, Roberts showed a good turn of pace and set an offload up on half way, Novos put the ball through hands with both forwards and backs involved to advance deep into Gateshead territory, Matt Lamb weaved his way over to score with Nipper Fifes desperate plea’s for a pass ignored! Mitchell missed his final kick missed but it didn’t matter by then.

Gateshead pressured in the final 5 minutes and should be commended for never giving up, but Novos defence once again held firm. This was a good game between to good sides and Novos won

The game was a lot closer than the scoreline suggested, Gateshead made Novos work hard for every point and contributed to a very entertaining game, Novos further enhanced their reputation at this level and are now in control of their own destiny with almost half of the season gone having built a handy 11 point lead at the top of the table, though several teams have a game in hand. There is much rugby still to be played and some tough away trips to Berwick, Gateshead, Medicals and Ashington are still to be negotiated if we are to stay in control we will need to be up to these challenges.

Next week the 2nd team are at home again to Ponteland who won this league last year and are competing well in the CANDY league, it will be interesting to see how we fare against them and a good measure of our progression, kick off is 2:30pm now we are in to November.