Pre Season kicks off well!

As is always the case in Pre-Season both sides were affected by unavailabilities, with Mowden unable to play most of their international contingent and Novos missing around ten regular players with unavailability. This was an opportunity for both sides to look at some new players and options for when the serious business kicks off in 2 weeks. The game was split into three twenty minute periods

As the game kicked off Novos made the early running and were denied an early score due to a knock on. It was Mowden, however who scored first when their pacy wing who narrowly missed England selection in the summer streaked away to score from long distance.

In the early exchanges, Novos were competing well and had opportunities to come back into the game in the opening 20 minute ‘third’ but a failure to take chances and rustiness around the ruck was costing dear, giving away a lot of possession and penalties, it was perhaps little surprise when Mowden scored again, this time through a blockbusting run through the centres.

Mowden’s pacy winger scored again and they stretched the lead to 24 – 0 with a well worked try from the forwards. Novos did finish the half stronger though and a score from Diane Purvis was well taken to put Novos back in the game, Steph Maddison adding the conversion. Novos began to carry the ball with more purpose through Fee Shanks and Katie Hall in particular and Cat Ingoe and Chrissie Miller supporting well and mopping up any loose ball. It was against the run of play when Mowden’s pacy winger scored again.

Novos off loading game was now paying dividends and a disallowed try followed before an excellent score by Olivia Coombs, under the posts, again converted by Skipper Steph Maddison. As the game headed towards the final whistle another great break from Katie Hall and offload to Fran Mockford saw the back rower run in from 30 yards to score again the conversion was landed by Maddison.

Massive positives after a reasonably slow start, Novos worked well and coped with the new scrummage laws reasonably well. The Lineout functioned really well despite missing key personnel and not really having dedicated a lot of time to it in training. Things to work on were clearing from rucks and communication when on the ball and in defence.

Some great displays and the offloading skills and willingness to move the ball around from Novos points to an exciting season, new players came in and did a great job, Jess Griffiths and Nicole Raymond playing their first games did well, Fee Shanks was a great ball carrying presence throughout and Kate Hall was a constant menace to DMP all afternoon.

Well Done All!

Next week Novos welcome Yorkshire Barbarians in the final warm up before opening up the Championship campaign against Eccles Ladies in 2 weeks time.