Super 2s show spirit to beat Middlesbrough

Spirits were high in the Novos camp after the Strong performance the week previous but as usual the Novos team although rather strong arrived in drips and drabs resulting in a rather flat warm up.

The rain stopped just before kick off which meant the plush grass was still slippy meaning handling for both sides was going to be an issue. The Novos team scored first slotting over a penalty although there was much confusion over who would take up the kicking duties after Harra childish refusing to step up, never the less Christian fluked his first kick of the season 3-0 to vos. Borough responded well and after a series of close range drives were awarded a penalty 5 metres out. Borough reacted hastily and took a quick one barging their way over only for the referee to call him back as it wasn't taken from the mark in his opinion. However from the resulting scrum the ball was spun wide and full back dotted down in the corner. Borough's team kicker kicked a pearler of a conversion from the touchline to make it 7 - 3. The game was always going to be close with Novos having the better of the lineout, but the Boro being stronger in the scrum. Borough continued to press and scored again when a borough player rounded his man to score in the corner. However just as half time approached Novos were awarded a penalty and a yellow card was issued which could easily inturn have lead to an unconverted try from the penalty from Selkirk try. The Novos scrum half took a quick penalty catching Boro unaware and scampered over for a soft but crucial converted score.

At half time Boro had to make many replacements as there much larger pack began to fatigue. The game was won in the next 10 minutes. Novos impressive lock Arbuckle scampered clear to score following an interception earlier in the play and then Novos scored again through Selkirk who converted his try, taking them up to the 20 point mark all whilst Boro were down to 14 men. The situation for the Novos got better with both half backs of the opposition having to leave the field injured with the 10 traveling local hospital with a suspected fractured elbow whereupon he met another Novos 2nd row Euan Duncan.

Another game there the scrum half had to prop and both sides suffered some injuries and both teams dug deep but due to Boroughs poor discipline Novos exited the field VICTORS.

Special mention to Harras eppic kicking for touch and more seriously the strong performance of the loose forwards.

Well Done

By Christian Selkirk
4'8"