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Battles with Shields, Barbarians and Marauders!
No not a scene from ‘Lord of the Rings’ but this weekends rugby opposition for Novos!. Its cup weekend for the junior sides this week while the 1st team bid a warm welcome to neighbours North Shields for a local derby in the league, the 3rds take on Alnwick Barbarians at home in an early kick off and the Centurians travel to Percy Park for a ‘friendly’.
Last week was another rest week for the first team, it was a scheduled cup weekend but because Semi final opponents Berwick have Scottish league commitments that game will now take place in February, incidentally the winner of that semi final will have a very tough challenge against Team Northumbria in the final who easily accounted for Blyth by 60 – 13 in the other Semi!
In the quarter final of the aforementioned cup, 4th placed Novos defeated Saturdays opponents, North Shields back in August 45 - 5, Both sides were below full strength that day and North Shields have had good form, picking up some good results and bonus points to lie in 8th place with 21 points, picking up wins over Prudhoe, Winlaton, Rockliffe and Seaham whilst also giving fellow promotion hopefuls Ashington and Bishop Auckland a fright before losing narrowly. Novos know to pay no attention to the last result and that it will be a very different North Shields on show on Saturday and a tough game is in prospect as we look to continue pushing the top 2 sides in the league with Shields also looking to push their way into the chasing pack.
Head Coach Magnus Leask again has injuries and unavailability to contend with in the 1st XV squad with long term absentees Lawrence Goodman and Steve Neill missing through injury, Andy Maxwell also injured Pete Twentyman, Matt Miles and Jonny Coller and skipper Jamie Wallace are also unavailable but Novos are otherwise in rude health and name a strong squad for the game.
Jonny Smith moves back into the front row to prop with Jim Higginson and Ben Walker gets the nod at Hooker, Chris Ward and Gav Evans, Louis Whitworth, Ben Merrett and stand in Captain Alex Littlefair form a strong looking back row unit.
In the backs Joe Stamper and Richy Harrison are at half back, Dan Bollado and Luke Mitchell line up in a hard running centre combination and out wide James Parkinson and Rob squire are winging it with speedster Jonny Ward at full back
On the bench Mark Curphey, Paul Olding and Shaun Stewart can all add a different dimension when they come on.
The 2nds have a week off in preparation for a big game next week v Ponteland.
The 3rds had a super win last week against Horden in a friendly fixture and will be hoping to repeat the trick when Alnwick 4ths ‘Barbarians’ visit Sutherland park in the County Cup. Skipper Craig Patterson is robbed of his Wilson’s who are off to Murrayfield but is still able to name a strong squad hopeful of making progress in the competition, Alnwick will be an unkown quantity having not played this season so far and we have no idea if it will be a young side full of Alnwicks promising Colts and young players or a Vets team that shows up!.
The Centurians were also due in cup action but progress without kicking a ball as Ponteland Playboys have withdrawn meaning the Centurians progress to the Quarter final to be played. Having accounted for North Shields Crusaders last week they have had to return mercurial fly half Magnus Leask to coach the first team but hope he can be persuaded to pull on his boots again after pulling the strings in a fine win. This week they travel to face Percy Park Marauders in what will be a tough encounter.
Next week is a big one with the Kestrels returning under the leadership of stout captain Andy Croft and Novos will field 5 sides again with the veterans rolling themselves out for their monthly jog about along with some of the younger fresh faced chaps in need of their guidance! – We will need everyone to make themselves available if we are to make this work!