Novos can’t knock champs off course.

Novos welcomed Perrenial champions Waterloo to Sutherland Park in a fixture that traditionally has always been a heavy defeat, despite a series of injuries and unavailability Novos were able to name a very strong squad of 20 players.

The opening 20 minutes was heroic from Novos after going close to scoring on kick off after a series of drives, Novos were then forced to defend for long periods but continually forced the experienced champions back with ferocious tackling, for 25 minutes they held firm until they ran out of numbers in defence and Waterloo scored in the corner. Frustratingly a knock on in the move was missed. 0-5

Waterloo continued to lay siege on Novos line but the defence continued to hold them at bay, Novos felt they should have had a penalty on half way after a Waterloo player played the ball on the floor to win a turnover, but it was not seen and Waterloo went wide and scored again, 0-12 with the conversion.

Waterloo’s third also had a touch of fortune as there appeared to be a forward pass in the move that increased their lead to 19-0 with another converted try.

Novos started to play a bit now and were again unlucky when what appeared to be a try for Elizabeth Severs was chalked off and a penalty awarded to Waterloo, from the ensuing lineout, Waterloo attacked with purpose and scored a great try with a well worked move from halfway. With the conversion Novos went in at half time with a 26-0 deficit, but with more fortune could have been in touch.

The 2nd half was different, Waterloo now had to show their defencive mettle as Novos attacked with fervour and finally got some ball. Waterloo though are not unbeaten for 2 years in this league for no reason and showed a streetwise edge to constantly slow ball down at the ruck, when they broke out they did so with purpose and scored 2 further break away tries.

As the afternoon appeared to be be looking to end without any reward for a plucky Novos performance on 75 minutes the ball was recycled and moved wide and Elizabeth Severs finally got her try and the game ended 38-5.

A marked improvement on previous scorelines against what is a fantastic team, lets not forget Waterloo last season beat us by 60 points at home and 50 away, they also have beaten Premiership sides and should really be playing Premiership rugby against the very best in the country, whilst disappointing to concede some of the tries, sometimes that is just how rugby goes and to be fair Waterloo were dominating the game and when you dominate you tend to get the rub of the green and most 50/50 decisions from the referee.

Our thanks to Referee Ian Smeetham, who controlled the game well and had a decent afternoon with the whistle, it’s a hard job to be a ref and I couldn’t do it. Its easy to see a knock on or a forward pass from the balcony or the sideline but not so much when your in the thick of it. Of course we are all biased toward our team as well so its possible we just wanted to see something to keep our team in the hunt as well.

In previous seasons we would have feared playing Waterloo and been happy to keep it out of cricket score territory – That the team came off the pitch gutted not to have made it closer despite our best result against them in years, just shows there is more to come from this fantastic group of players.