Breaking records!

It had been a constructive but lighter week in training this week as we prepared to take on the formidable Camp Hill. Even though Camp Hill had had an indifferent start to the season they were always going to be a very tough side at home, and Novos hadn’t beaten Camp Hill in any of their previous 10 attempts!

It was an early 7:45 meet for the bus which saw many of the players rack up with blankets and pillows. Emma Clement suggested that branded Novos pillows would be a good idea to make us look ‘more professional’. This request was ignored by DoWR Fran Mockford. So 4 long hours later with our pack of supporters (Chris, Dave and of course Mr Willis) we arrived at the quaint Camp Hill ground. With everyone changed and ready to go you could feel a real anticipation amongst the players that this could be their first win over Camp Hill. Who could blame them with such an impressive start to the season; this was the best chance to turn them over. Even without in form centre Helen ‘Wrecking Ball’ Kane, Novos has a very strong team that looked up to the challenge.

If last week’s warm up was perfect then this weeks was the opposite, players were dropping balls, slow, looking disinterested and unwilling to react to mistakes. It was enough to pull your hair out! But we finished on a positive note as we headed back into the changing rooms for a final word from the one eared bandit skipper Amelia Neagle. With no Janey Eccles this week Caitlin ‘The General’ Sedgeworth stepped up to the plate and took on the VC role. It was time for the KO in a game that would mark the half way point in the season and how far Novos have come already this year.

Novos had the early pressure with runs from Jen Meaghs and Capucine ‘KP’ Auger getting Novos over the gain line. However, this promising start was short lived as Camp Hill came into the game. A combination of strong runs and some of the worst tackling ever seen by Cathy Foster's parents, Camp Hill powered over for the first try of the game. A good conversion left Novos 7-0 down, not a familiar sight! Some stern words were had and Novos were going to get into the game, unfortunately Camp Hill had over ideas and an uncharacteristic poor restart from Emma Nichol soon saw Camp Hill back on the attack. With a quick footed fly half and a powerful 13 it wasn’t long before more horrendous tackling from Novos allowed Camp Hill their second try. A missed conversion being the only respite. The poor start could be worse mumbled the side lines… and it did as minutes later Camp Hill made it 19-0 a commanding lead, especially when playing at home.

As coach Francis Entressengle looked to the skies in desperation with Novos looking down the barrel of a humiliating defeat… something changed. No one remembers the words that were said in that huddle, some say it was an ancient Egyptian prayers others that it was Rachel Bennet’s latest cook book. But it worked, from the restart Novos were a new team and everybody lifted their game. Cat Ingoe and Christine Miller hit ruck after ruck securing good ball for the likes of Fran Mockford and Jess Richards to power forward. Novos soon won a penalty in the Camp Hill half and what will come as no surprise to Novos ladies regulars skipper Amelia ‘one eared bandit’ Neagle took it quickly. This storming run generated quick ball for the backs and a fired up Capucine ‘KP’ Auger sliced through under the post. A successful conversion saw Novos move to 19-7.

It was with Novos where backrow Neagle lead the team by example with her strong runs up the pitch, assisted by fellow forwards Elle Bloor and Katy Chamberlain. Novos had Camp Hill on the ropes with their revamped power game and it wasn’t long before a loose pass was collected by Emma Nichol who just got over the line for Novos second. Another great conversion saw Novos trail by just 5! Another good take at the kick off and now Novos were looking to shift the ball wide, darting runs from back three Fanny Fouin, Rachael ‘Flem’ Bass and Rachael ‘1 star’ Bennett. This was all managed by half backs ‘The General’ and Ruth ‘Struth’ Scott, they bossed the players around them and were in the middle of everything Novos were doing. A few loose passes slowed but never stopped the momentum. Novos fought back with every run, ruck and pass, then at the 30 minute mark Emma ‘on fire’ Nichol stepped into overdrive as a destructive run down the left flank got Novos over the line to make it 19-19!!

This was it from 19-0 down Novos had equalised in true style, a break in play for a Camp Hill injury stole some of Novos energy and the last 10 minutes of a frantic first half played out very quietly. Novos were definitely the happier team at half time, they had clawed their way back and were filled with energy. Camp Hill on the other hand looked like a team that had blown a 19 point lead! Sitting down, hands on hips all the signs of a defeated team! But Novos still had plenty to do in the second half to secure the win!

The second half kicked off and everyone in the west midlands area could feel the tension. The break had not dampened the physical nature of the game with huge hits flying in left right and centre! Most notable from Novos pair Elle Bloor and Katy Chamberlain who despite every huge hit would bounce up and look for the next one! With the game still tied injury striked, forcing Novos centre ‘KP’ from the field to be replaced by Lizzie Gilthorpe with Fouin moving into the centres to play her 4th position of the season! Novos looked the better side with ‘Flem’ looking particularly dangerous from the back. No matter the pace of the game forwards Fran Mockford, Cat Ingoe and Chrissie Miller found themselves everywhere, while Jess Richards continuing her storming runs. Awesome defensive line-out work from ‘One Ear’ kept Camp Hill pinned in their own half. The pressure was building from Novos and you felt they had to score… and they did! Skipper ‘One Ear’ powered over in the right hand corner to give Novos the lead for the first time in the game. Laura Armstrong replaced ‘1 star’ on the wing for her 1st team debut and what a game she had! Linking up beautiful with hockey friend ‘Flem’ she beat her opposite winger every time and gave Novos some real go forward. Fouin was having the time of her life in the centres making a line break every other play. But over excitement and poor decision making frustrated Novos as we failed to capitalise.

The second half seemed to have been going on for 40 days and 40 nights but the referee signalled we still had 15 minutes left to play. The game was incredibly tight and while Novos were on top Camp Hill looked dangerous whenever they got the ball. Twice Camp Hill sliced through the Novos lines only for us to play our get out of jail card Rachel ‘Flem’ Bass. After her 'back of the match' performance last week, her 2 try saving tackles without a doubt kept Novos in the game. ‘The General’ found herself everywhere, making covering tackles, securing quick ball, upsetting the opposition 9, she did it all. With what could only be minutes left in the game things were getting very tight on the side line. Novos hammering down on Camp Hill were rewarded with a penalty, sigh of relief, kick this to go 8 points clear… ‘One Ear’ had a different idea as the skipper took a quick tap and ran towards the line, gobsmacked by her decision none of her teammates were there to support her and Novos lost the ball. No one could quite believe how close the game was as every second was like agony.

Novos had the ball once again and another line break from Fouin but us deep in the Camp Hill half, Elle Bloor (according to Meals, the best ‘hooker’ in Newcastle) spotted no space on the blindside so decided to make some by running over two Camp Hill defenders! This set the platform for one more destructive run from Jess Richards who powered over the line for her first try in Novos colours. And that was it! The ref blew the final whistle and Novos had secured their FIRST EVER WIN over Camp Hill, a bonus point win away from home no less! Coach Harris threw his trademark red hat in the air in celebration as the jubilation rang out amongst the Novos supporters!

The emotion was running high in the huddle with several players looking like they could burst into tears at any time, not least coach Francis Entressengle. ‘The General’ was heard to have said this;
‘I’ve played at a lot of clubs, but never have I been made to feel so welcome or have so much fun than at Novos’
. With all said and done Novos played their worst 20 minutes of the season, but followed it up with 60 of their best! At the half way point in the season we sit 2nd in the league having already won as many matches as we did all of last season. Rachael ‘Get out of jail’ Bass was named back of the match while there could only be one player of the match, the player who turned it all around skipper Amelia Neagle!

Next week we take on league champions and table toppers Waterloo. Please get down to Sutherland Park to support he ladies in a huge game.