Novos 3s boss Gos

"In 1823, William Webb Ellis first picked up the ball in his arms and ran with it. And for the next 156 years forwards have been trying to work out why.” – Sir Tasker Watkins (1979). An apt start to this bonus point win match report as 3 forwards found themselves on the score sheet.

Novos 3rd XV, a mixture of old gits such as Mr Desmond aged like fine a whisky and old enough to be some of the team's father, along with the return of Mr Forbes, trotting out, sacking off their day jobs to lay their bodies on the line for the good cause of Novocastrians RFC.

Novos welcomed the Green and White of Gosforth for their first league fixture of 2015.

The line up, somewhat usurped by the celebrations of an ex gorgeous 3rd XV stalwart, Damien Foggan (Happy belated birthday, you old fecker), saw a return to the front line for the likes of Hugh Tatlow and Shaun O'Connell. Also, being welcomed back (after his bitch fit to Captain Pratt of 'WHY AM I NOT STARTING?!') Chris Ward.

The day didn't start off easily...Team Bitch Tom Burford was unable to find any flags at Sutherland Park to take the arduous journey to mark out the pitch down at Paddy Freemans park...a certain member of the selected squad not turning out for the 3rd consecutive week, and for the second week in a row, a warrior of the sexy 3s had reportedly snapped their banjo! (Fucks sake lads...she clearly wasn't wet enough).

VC Carr, after making "friends" with Gosforth earlier in the week advised the troop that their first XV did not have a fixture, and that players would be disseminated throughout their ranks...not that Novos cared. After a gentle warm up in the January sun, the match kicked off.

From the off, the play swayed back and forth, James Desmond urging Novos to play five minute phases. Novos' ill discipline found Gosforth inside the 22 with a penalty. The tap was given to the Gosforth tight head who looked like a man on a mission, Mike Cousins stuck his shoulder in for the attempt at a choke tackle. Gosforth were able to recycle the ball and ship it wide to score. Conversion was added.

From the kick off, Novos chased deep and began pouring pressure on the Gosforth ranks. Greg Humphreyson making good yards on the attack and marshalling the forwards, despite cocking up the calls.

Jack Salt and Matt McCauley both putting in good, solid hits, unfortunately for McCauley, he was forced off with a shoulder injury. To the fray stepped Christian Selkirk who wasted no time by putting over cheeky box kicks from the Novos ruck, one in particular landed sweetly inside the Gosforth 22.

Dan White, who was superb in his line out steals and running all day, stole the resulting line out and opted to secure ball for Novos to trundle on with a rolling maul.
Hooker for the day Mike Cousins joined the back of the maul and found himself faced with the Gosforth winger between him and the try line...one hand off later and Novos had their first score, converted by Humphreyson.

Novos then went to sleep, conceding a quick try, despite heroic efforts in defence, and some strange kicking decisions from Wilson and Desmond... Wilson's in particular landed him with the coveted Tom Burford award for a kick in front of the opposition 22 which was plucked by the wind like a plastic bag caught in an updraft.

Novos went into the break 2 points down as James Desmond battered his way over the line to score his 4th try in 2 games.

At the half time break, playing simple rugby was stressed by all, and from the kick off, Novos gifted Gosforth a try. Novos began to play cleverely and following brute force in rucks and mauls, Desmond found himself with ball in hand following a great series of passes and scored under the posts. Greg Humphreyson added the conversion to tie things up and 19-19.

Novos, not content with a draw, changed gears, a great choke tackle and strip by Chris Ward led to a break. What was a relatively niggle free affair began to boil over and words were exchanged.

Novos, applying pressure on the Gosforth line, fed the ball through to Will Tatlow who jinked his way through the tiring Gosforth defence to score with 5 mins to play.
Novos kept up the pressure and following the most polite/sarcastic line out steal ever from Dan White, who at the top of the line out stole the ball and thanked the Gosforth hooker, Novos began another attack, a maul hit the ground and Novos had the put in with last play called.

Novos had been fiercely dominant in the scrum all day, applying huge pressure and trundling Gosforth off the ball on multiple occasions, all Novos had to do was secure ball and kick it into touch. Mike Cousins managed to trip over his own size 13 feet and Gosforth stole the ball and spread it wide, fortunately for Novos, the ball was knocked on and the final whistle went to raucous cheers from Novos players and support.

Gosforth had given Novos a hell of a game however, final score Novos 24 - 19 Gosforth.

Notable mentions go to Dan White, a worthy recipient of Man of the Match. Hugh Tatlow, who tackled anything in his way and James Desmond, boasting a 5 try haul in two games. Couple that with the 2 scored by Mike Cousins in consecutive weeks brings their tally to 7. A certain Joe "I've scored so many tries this season" Carr, was very, very quiet in the bar. Perhaps because he had left his shoes in the Paddy Freeman changing room.

Next week, the short hop to Northern which will be a bruiser of an affair. Novos remain unbeaten in 2015 and hope to extend this run further.

This weeks report was written by Mike Cousins, on location at the heartbreak hotel