The Undateables - Social 7's Winners @ Billingham

Squad - Louis Matthews, Joe Whelan, Darren Kelly, Rhys Merlane, Ben Jubb, Harry Tankard, Isaac Robinson, Sully Ismail, Barnaby Matthews, Sam Bird and Joe Kapur.

In true Novos style logistics manager Alex Cokeley was lost to Friday beer and the sun but the boys managed to get themselves onto the 0942 train. The lads arrived with stand in manager Bill Hudson having erected the gazebo with some help from our Fijian army friends.

Yarm - 38-14
Darlington - 24-19
Billingham Hawaiians 38-10
Billingham Bounty Hunters 27-17

Tries :
1 - Ismail, Matthews L
2 - Jubb, Robinson, Whelan
5 - Merlane
6 - Tankard

Cheers to Alfie Bowman, Jack Wilson and Callum Anderson for coming along and supporting the lads. We can perhaps add Sam Bird to this list who got injured on the first play of the tournament but stayed to cheers the lads home. Massive thank you to Bill Hudson who would normally do our 2nd side at Tynedale. Great for a Tynedale man to come with us to Billingham rather than go to his local club.

Massive shout out to Billingham who made space for us once we heard we were not in the Tynedale event. Hospitality was amazing and we hope we put enough money over the bar to warrant our inclusion.

Boys got better and better as the day went on culminating in our best two performances against the Billingham sides. It was great to see Joe Kapur get his first taste of senior rugby and his fellow colt Rhys Merlane was outstanding throughout. Both were hanging after celebrating the end of exams but put in huge shifts.

Great to see Louis and Barnaby Matthews play alongside each other - both making trademark Matthews line breaks. All of the forwards playing well with Darren Kelly and Sully Ismail playing well in the wider channels whilst Joe Whelan just looking to run into things.

We had some classy backs on display with Ben Jubb and Harry Tankard outstanding all afternoon. Some great decision making by Ben often leading to Harry breaking away for a try. It was great to see Isaac Robinson excelling out wide with a huge hit off a kick off, some great defence and a couple of great tries.

Boys had a great time sharing a pint or twelve in the sun afterwards and did not let some minor transport issues spoil their night. Louis Matthews stepping up to sort lifts home and Mr Bird also coming to the rescue to get me home. Sorry I wasnt much company after basically waking up at Lobley Hill !

Hoping to get pre season info out this week but we will definitely be starting on Tuesday 4th July at Longsands, Tynemouth for a beach session,.

Up the Vos !

Bill