Cup run continues

Despite the weather last week, Sutherland Park looked in great condition as Novos Ladies geared up to play Darlington in the first round of the Cup.

A good kick off from Darlington had Novos pinned back playing into a fair wind. It was up to the forwards to drive Novos up the pitch, bossed by Caitlin ‘The General’ Sedgewick. Jess Richards and Sarah Kilby providing powerful runs to get Novos over the gain line. Helen ‘Wrecking Ball’ Kane was back on song, smashing through the Darlington line, well supported by centre partner Capucine ‘KP’ Auger. This soon had Novos pounding down on the Darlington line before a loose pass was collected by fullback Emily ‘Ollie’ Oliver who went outside not 1, not 2 but 3 defenders to score in the corner. Helen Kane struck the ball well but missed a tough conversion. A well collected restart saw Jess Richards charge up the paddock, well supported by back row Katy ‘Bleed Black’ Chamberlain. A key offload saw Fran ‘First impressions’ Mockford burst through 3 tackles to find 50 meters of fresh air and she galloped in for an easy score. It was another wide conversion that the Wrecking Ball could not quite convert. It wasn’t long before Ollie was in for her second try which would see her play ‘jug avoidance’ for 60 minutes. Some good hands by fly half Ruth ‘Administrator’ Scott saw Novos go in for a try under the posts. Now with 3 warm up shots under her belt and the kick right in front, you felt for sure that Helen Kane would convert, however, a Pakistani book maker had paid her off so she deliberately put it wide in the most unsporting fashion.

Janey Eccles who so far had been putting in the grunt work this Sunday decided she fancied a run, with the best footwork seen since Graeme Cooper retired, she sliced through several defenders and used her pan searing pace to score; another try this season. It was at this point that the unbelievable happened… Helen Kane kicked a conversion to make the score 27-0. Good ball delivered by Cat Ingoe and Sal Fitzpatrick, gave Helen Kane the platform she needed to slice through the line and power past the full back for another score. KP stepped up to take the conversion but an unfortunate gust knocked the ball off the tee and prevented her from kicking the goal. Some superb scrummaging from Darlington saw them score a well-deserved push over try. Half time came and with the score at 32-5 it was time for some changes: Amelia ‘The Magic’ Magistrali on for the general, Laura Armstrong and Jen Meagher came on for KP and Sal respectively.

Laura Armstrong instantly made an impact getting on the outside of 2 defenders and elegantly stepping the fullback for her first try in Novos colours. The Magic stepped up for the conversion and slotted it first time, kicked before Magic? It wasn’t long before Laura beat her opposite number again and looked set to score a certain try, before she decided to play ‘jug avoidance’ by passing the ball to Cathy Foster who touched down over the line. A very tough conversion was pushed wide by Magic. Some very enthusiastic play by our resident nutter Emily Yarrow gave Novos good ball and Fanny Fouin joined the brace club as she touched down for another score which was well converted with a touch of Magic. Novos had time for one more break as Laura found fresh air again, with just the full back to beat she passed inside to Fanny Fouin hoping to enjoy a jug after the match. Fouin decided she didn’t want to buy a jug so threw the ball to ground claiming she ‘tried to pass it’.

The final score of 51-5 fully reflected Novos dominance from start to finish, 2 wins on the trot and fresh energy in training there is no doubt we are back on track. We are back on the road next week, away to Northwich looking to make it 3 wins in a row.