Excellent win for the Ladies

Novos welcomed Birkenhead to Sutherland Park looking to turn around the narrow loss against them earlier in the season.

In recent weeks Novos have started slowly, this week, they started strongly, and were able to put the away side under pressure from the kick off.

Quick ball from a ruck saw No 8 Fee Shanks switch play to the blind side and fly half Ruth Scott was in support to cut in, wrong footing the defence to score the first try. The conversion was made by centre Emma Nichol. This gave Novos confidence, and a clean catch from the restart saw the forwards making good ground into the oppositions half, and the ball was spun wide for Full back Lucy Henson to go over for her first try of the day.

Again, Novos took the ball from the restart through Helen Kane, and with forwards and backs linking well, Novos were able to keep the ball alive, and did not allow Birkenhead to organise their defence before the ball was spun out wide for winger Olly Critchley to round her opposite number and score out wide.

Before long Lucy Henson went over for her 2nd try after space was created for her to sprint down the touch line and under the posts, converted by Emma Nichol.

Birkenhead then made ground after a missed tackle, and as Novos scrambled back in defence, they gave away a penalty. Birkenhead elected to kick it, taking the half time score to 24-3.

Birkenhead regrouped at half time and came back strongly, making their way into Novos 22. However, the defence held firm, and from turnover ball, Novos looked to go wide with another break by Lucy Henson. She was tackled just short of the line and centre Janette Shaw was on hand to take the off load and score, converted by Emma Nichol. Roles were then reversed as Janette Shaw turned provider, drawing in the defence and passing out for Lucy Henson to race in for her 3rd try.

Novos next score came from Ruth Scott, spinning out of a tackle to win the race for the try line.

Lucy Henson then scored her 4th try of the afternoon, again running from deep and sprinting round the covering defenders, converted by Emma Nichol.

Birkenhead never gave up and made ground with some forward drives and Novos giving away penalties at the breakdown. From a tap penalty they set up a driving maul, which the ref deemed Novos collapsed and went under the posts to award a penalty try, converted by their fly half, making the final score 48-10.

This just shows what this side is capable of and with some big games on the horizon we will need to continue the application seen in this game. If we do we should see a very creditable league placing and an opportunity to have a good go at the National cup competition.

An excellent performance by the whole squad, making the players of the match awards very difficult.

Forward of the match: Hannah Pollard
Back of the match: Lucy Henson