Novos Development team have fun in the Sun...derland

Novos Development team have fun in the Sun...derland

Novos Development team were back in action after the xmas break and named a strong 21 man squad for the trip to play Sunderland at Ashbrooke.

Novos started off strongly and gained the chance to take the lead through a penalty after two minutes, Angus Walker stepped up to take the kick at goal the ball passed an inch wide of the post.

The game was fairly open for the first 10 minutes with Novos having the better of possession but Sunderland opened the scoring after they created an overlap in the Novos 22 with the energetic hooker diving over, the conversion was missed.

Novos lifted their game and continued to make half breaks but some ball killing tactics prevented Novos scoring.

After 17 minutes drop goal legend Gus Walker received the ball from the returning James Shallcross just in the Sunderland half and he calmly slotted over the 3 points, much to the shock of the subs bench.

After 20 minutes Sunderland got a penalty just outside the Novos 22, the kick was put wide.

With 25 minutes on the clock Novos were growing in confidence and on half way James Shallcross made a half break and offloaded to speedy back rower Dan Hipps who jinked his way through the defence before racing home to score. Gus Walker missed the chance to add the conversion.

Novos now had their tails up and more good running from Dan Hipps set Shallcross free in the Sunderland 22, he was just snagged short of the line but try line predator James Desmond was on hand to dive over from a meter out, Walker missed the conversion.

With 35 minutes on the clock a cheap shot from a Sunderland player in a ruck lead to Gus Walker leaving the field with a nasty gash on his head, Dave Henry came on in the centres with Tommy Wilson Snr moving to fly half.

In the last minute of the half a quick line out move saw Rob Campbell receive the ball and he paced and power his way to the try line from 30 meters out, Andy Moses took over kicking duties to add the conversion.

At half time Novos held a 20-5 lead, Dan Hipps went off with a shoulder injury to be replaced by Alan Pitchford and Tommy Wilson Jnr went off with a dead leg a vaselined up Gus Walker came back on.

Novos continued to dominate and nearly scored tries through first Jonny Martin and then Paul Sanderson but good tackles and forward passes denied the two props.

After 50 minutes Novos did extent their lead after the ball was fired along the line by walker to reach Andy Moses who ran the try in from 40 meters out, he missed the conversion.

Tommy Wilson Snr left the action with old age he was replaced by Richard Seed.
After 60 minutes Shallcross was replaced by new player Jack .... With David Marshall moving to scrum half and Jack going fullback.

After 65 minutes Novos crossed the white wash through Irish drinking machine Darren McCrory who linked up with his fellow Irish centre partner to crash over in the corner, Moses missed the conversion.

Will Moses went off to be replaced by Steve Thompson and Steve Gittins being replaced by Chris Brown.

With 8 minutes remain an unsavoury moment involving stamping on a Novos player lead to a fight and a yellow card being brandished.

With the extra man in the scrum Sunderland used the scrum option for the penalty, when the ball broke free with a one man overlap Sunderland looked distain to score but a big hit by scrum half David Marshall stopped the attack. The tackle resulted in Marshall going off with a dead shoulder Shallcross came back on at 9.

From the scrum Sunderland won the ball against the head to crash over the line, the conversion was missed.

Novos still dominated the game despite having a man off the pitch and were running the ball up until the full time whistle.

The win was excellent after a hard worked well drilled performance, there are still improvements to be made but if this leave of performance can be kept up many more wins this season will be achieved.

There were several candidates from man of the match, Dan Hipps was excellent in the first half, Rob Campbell had another beastly game in the second row, Steve Gittins in a typical hard working performance, half back Shallcross and Walker gave solid performances and young Stew Wilson was strong at number 8. Man of the match was Jonny Martin in only his third game of rugby in over 5 years, he was solid in scrums, carried the ball well and tackled hard.

Next week the Development team are home to Horden which will be another big challenge for this young exciting squad.