Novos Deployment Team sign off 2011 with a win

Novos Deployment Team sign off 2011 with a win
Following the hard fought game against Blaydon the following week Novos named a strong team to take on Morpeth in a friend on the first team pitch at Sutherland Park.
With skipper Ian Pratt out injured Tommy Snr took on the captaincy but pulled up in the warm up which meant that Alan Pitchford took the Arm Band.
Novos started brightly and began to dominate all over the park and took an early lead after 7 minutes through Adam Longstaff after a good backs move, Duncan Mackenzie missed the hard conversion chance.
Novos continued to dominate but good defending by Morpeth prevented the Development team adding to the score, that all changed when impressive back rower Dan Hipps broke from the half way line to race clear and score after 25 minutes. Duncan Mackenzie’s usually reliable kicking boots were letting him down as the conversion was missed.
After 30minute Morpeth began to get a foot hold in the game when they scored a try from some poor Novos defending, the conversion was missed.
The half finished 10-5 to Novos.
In the second half Morpeth started off the stronger team but Novos soaked up the pressure and finally woke up when Tommy Jnr was put in space by Mackenzie to crash into the Morpeth 22 despite towing a caravan after 58 minutes, but the attack was just halted, this lead to sustained pressure from Novos.
Next on the score sheet was Longstaff for his second try of the game with a good back mover following good rucking by the forwards, he missed his conversion.
Dom Watkins came onto replace Andy Moses on the wing.
Novos continued to dominate the next try was from young Stew Wilson who picked up from number 8 in the Morpeth 22 to power over the line, Longstaff missed the conversion.
Damien Foggen went off to be replaced by Nick Walker.
In the last minute of the game the beast got the ball just outside the Morpeth 22 and powered his way over the line, Longstaff missed the conversion.
It was a good win for the Development team before Christmas, if the good form continues in 2012 a mid table league position is possible.
Man of the match was a hard decision, after impressive performances by Tommy jnr, Duncan Mackenzie, Rob Campbell and Wayne Henaghan but on Debut Dan Hipps the very impressive back rower was man of the match after an excellent all-round game capped off with a try.
There is a three week break until the 7th of January when the Development team take on Sunderland away.