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Weekend Preview - Novos set to coast it!
This weekend all four Novos sides meet opposition from the North Eastern coastline, Horden, Whitley Bay, North Shields and Percy Park! The 1sts are away to Horden in search of some much needed league points.
This weekend Novos 1st team will be hoping to come away from a tough visit to Horden with something to show for all of the recent hard work on the training field. Following a return of just three points from the opening 5 fixtures, Novos find themselves 2nd from bottom in the league with only Redcar below them, as the teams around the bottom have started to pick up points it is interesting to see how the bonus point system has affected things. A few decent wins and Novos could find themselves in the top half!
With Stalwart Rory Clarke unavailable, Mo Finley returns to the squad following injury but has to be content with a place on the bench, Gus Graham moves from hooker to prop to accomodate a useful looking new signing from Mowden Park, Dave Curry, Gav Evans is retained at loosehead. Mark Vaudrey and Eddy Yuill partner up in the 2nd row and Andy Borthwick is at 8, with skipper Ben Merrett on the flank, Paul Henderson gets a chance with the number 6 shirt.
The backs are unchanged for the 3rd week in a row, Andy Maxwell, Dan Bollado, Richie Mitchell, Chris Fife, Shaun Stewart, Luke Mitchell and Richie Lamb all continue as the coaching team look for continuity.
The bench sees Joe Moore and Mo Finlay line up with fitness coach Andy Rickaby who is in line to make a competitive debut for Novos.
Horden will provide a tough test, especially at Welfare Park, they are a tough, direct side with a fair bit of skill, but Novos will be looking to improve on recent form and are confident the growing squad can cause an upset.
Other fixtures:
Alnwick v Darlington
Gosforth v Gateshead
Medicals v Ponteland
Stockton v Ashington
Sunderland v Redcar
Wallsend v Ryton
The 2nds are the sole side playing at home and they welcome Whitley Bay Rockliffe Vikings for a friendly, looking to bounce back from last weeks heavy defeat to Alnwick with some lessons learned. A strong squad is named with skipper James Forbes a very welcome return to the fold in the front row, Sean Lightfoot also returns which means Dave Addison moves accross to hooker. Andy Gardiner and Glenn Fife form the 2nd row and the back row sees a return for Michael Mitten at Number 8, Jordan Robinson continues his Union Education after signging from League side Jarrow Vikings and Jimmy Byers once again dons the 7 jersey.
The backline is much changed and suffers the loss of the mercurial talents of Chris Donabie who twisted his knee last week, however Mark Young returns following bench duty for the 1sts at scrum half, Si Dickinson has recovered from his calf strain to wear the 10 jersey. Australian Mitchell Hendricks is in the centres with Mike Shackleton and Ben Adcock, Chris Gray provide serious pace out wide. Youngster Andy Moses is given a chance at full back.
The bench sees Stew Wilson line up with 2 new signings, Jamie Diggle who used to play at Tynedale and Northumbria student Adam Beanland.
The undefeated 3rds travel to Percy Park to play their Marauders side. An impressive series of wins sees Novos sit firmly on top of League 3b after 4 games and victory on Saturday would give them an unprecedented 6 straight wins on the bounce.
New signing from Yarm James Ellis lines up to debut in the front row with John Addison at hooker and Dave Rutherford. Influential 2nd row James Desmond is injured so his place goes to another new signing Tom Elviss who partners Damien Foggon in the 2nd row. Alan Pitchford skippers from Blindside with Veteran navigation expert Stevie Gittins at number 8 and Enniskillen student Jason Woods.
In the backs, James Shallcross is at scrum half with Gus Walker at fly half, the 2 Tommy's senior and Junior are in the centres and Brian Keith, Adam Longstaff and James Bass complete a very pacy back three.
Ed Ellerington is on the bench alongside yet another new signing from Wallsend Liam Savage.
The Centurians take on North Shields with a squad of 20 at Captain Ian Pratts disposal! A real show of how numbers have swelled at Novos this season when 4 full sides are named with subs despite having quite a few unavailable, potentially Novos will be in the enviable position of fielding 5 sides on a regular basis very soon, a return of the good old days beckons!
Will Moses, Steve Thompson, Mike hudspeth, Richard Daly, James Cowan,Lee Histed, Ed Bowness, Ian Pratt form a formidable pack whilst Gary Redshaw, Derek Wilson, Nicky Ellison, Chris Bourke, Tom Barker, Jordan Ellison, Chris Davidson form a skilful and pacy back division.
The bench is Wayne Henergan, Will Darragh, Ed Moss, Chris Thompson, Simon Spencer