Fryustrating away day for Ladies

Novos travelled to Birkenhead for their first away game of the season, and from kick off were immediately put under pressure by the hosts. The Birkenhead pack made good ground and recycled the ball well, meaning

Novos were defending for the first period of the match. However, Novos tackled strongly and the defence held firm, and eventually could clear their lines through the boot of Emma Nichols.
With ball in hand, Novos were unable to break through the Birkenhead defence and a couple of half chances were missed when the final pass went astray.

It was Birkenhead who got on the scoreboard first with some forward drives sucking in the defence, enabling them to spin the ball out for their centre to score under the posts, which was converted by their fly half.

With the ref calling final play of the half, Novos kept the ball alive, moving the ball from one side of the pitch to the other, followed by a bizarre kick from scrum half Steph Maddison, which seemed to stun most players around it! Helen Kane reacted first to pluck the ball out of the air and crash over in the corner. The missed conversion meant the half time score was 7-5.

Novos started the 2nd half brightly, but were unable to convert any of their possession into a score, with a couple of promising runs being bundled into touch by the cover defence.

It was Birkenhead who managed to get their 2nd try, and the only score of the half, when a driving maul took them over the try line, again converted by their fly half.

The game ended with Birkenhead pressing hard but Novos determined not to let them cross the line again, and the defence held out to leave the final score 14-5.

A losing bonus point gained, and Novos will be looking to reverse the result when Birkenhead travel North for the return fixture.

Forward of the match: Fran Mockford
Back of the match: Janette Shaw