Run of league defeats don’t end in Wallsend

The squad that was named a good blend of pace, power, skill and aggression to be able to beat Wallsend.

The warm up went well and Novos were up for the game from the start putting Wallend under lots of pressure, dominating Line outs and scrums.

Against the run of play the Warriors took the lead through a quickly taken tap penalty allowing one of their several “large” players to dive over the line, the conversion was added.

Novos responded well after some good forward drives, the ball was sent out to the backs who passed it inside to full back Dave Marshall who raced 20 meters, then he did a switch with Richard Seed, who then did a scissors with Brian Keith who raced away to score under the posts. The Conversion was added to make it 7-7.

For the next 10 minutes Novos camped in the Wallsend half and scored from a scrum outside of the 22, when Ian Pratt picked up from 8, off loaded to Shallcross to put Curson in space, who off loaded to Pratt who was stopped 5 meters short, Shallcross picked up from the base of the ruck to dive over to score. The conversion was missed making it 7-12.

From the kick off Pratt took the high ball beat a couple of players before Mikko Heilikka got the ball on the wing to race 40 meters before being put in touch.

Wallsend kicked a penalty from in front of the posts to make it 10-12.

From the restart Novos chased well and two Wallsend players didn’t fancy the ball so aimlessly kicked to ball away to James Desomond, who put in a perfect kick in the corner, the Wallsend winger booted the ball into touch.

Novos won the line out an put moved towards the try line but when the ball reached the backs the ball was turned over and Wallsend cleared their lines.

Just before half time Novos gave away several sloppy penalties and from a quick tap Wallsend scored in the corner to take a 3 point lead into half time.

At the start of the second half Novos didn’t wake up, which allowed Wallsend to up them under pressure the Novos scrum held firm.

10 minutes into the second half after Novos gave away another penalty, Wallsend kicked for goal to make it 18-12.

Novos continued to struggle for the first 20minutes of the second half and lost James Cowan to injury, he was replaced by Ian Heath.

Novos began go get into the game only to concede in the corner from a scum after some poor defending to make it 23-12.

This go Novos really going and after 10 minutes of sustain pressure with scrums and driving runs Novos shoulda woulda coulda of scored.

Half way in the Wallsend half fly half Chris Curson put in a high cross field kick to a well positioned “winger” James Desmond who took the high ball passed to Brian Keith to put a simple pass into Tommy Wilson Jnr but with the line begging the ball was slapped forwards.

Novos continued to surge forwards Alan Pitchford went on one of his trade mark runs at Wallsend only to be dump tackled.

Time was ticking away very fast for Novos, with 5 minutes remain Dave Rutherford got the ball from a tap penalty, (Wallsend shouted he doesn’t fancy it was he ran over 3 over their players) but was stopped just short of the line with his pants down. After three phases Novos crossed the line through hooker Craig Paterson.

It was strangely full time after the conversion even though there should have been another 2-3 minutes play, full time score 23-17 to Wallsend.

The Development team continue to look for the elusive first league win of the season, the team are very close to winning games we just need to relax and not panic when we have the ball.

Next week the Development team host Wallsend in the Cup.

Man of the Match was James Shallcross who was excellent at 9 and helped bring much needed control to the game.