Full credit to the Medicals ground staff, who managed to keep the game on when most grounds were unusable. We were at full strength baring the likes of Brandon Gilbert and Rhys Merlane. However, there were a lot of Medicals lads we didn't recognize and they had shifted Matt Hayes to 15.

The energy was high in the warm up and we were keen to get stuck in - opting to kick off and let Meds try run it back on a soft pitch. Fairly simple template on the day - kick and trap, dont let Hayes counter and attack their set piece.

Everything went to plan in the first half with our scrum dominant, perhaps because their heavy 3 was in the second row whilst their number 4 was at tighthead. In addition, Jonny Cotterill was dominating the lineout to the point where Meds were denied possession. From a lineout in Meds 22m Michael Searle got us over the gain line. Then Dylan Gittins went back inside to George Bambrick for the line break and Meds conceeded a penalty. Quick tap taken by Sam Busby for his customary try to put him back on top of the try scoring charts. Great conversion added by Josh Farley 5m in from touch. Novos up 7-0.

We looked more up for it then Meds - Rob Baldwin sitting a bloke down from the kick off, Tom Taylor and Dylan Gittins holding up attackers for turnovers and some great counter rucking by Baldwin and Andrew Kirton. The biggest difference between the two sides however, was the ability of our 9 - Cam Wallace and 10 - Josh Farley to clear lines and/or put in attacking kicks.

Back in Meds territory Sion Gittins hit a lovely ball to George Bambrick at the tail of the lineout. We hurtled towards the line uncontested as Meds stepped off. Bambrick, a wise and seasoned campaigner, kept the ball rather than transfer it. He went in untouched and after Josh Farley added the conversion, we were out to a 14-0 lead.

Medicals tried to respond, but their next attack was again held up by Tom Taylor for a turnover. We went back into Medicals 22 via some great box kicking by Cameron Wallace. Another clean take at the top of his jump by Jonny Cotterill and we were off on another driving maul. This time it was Sion Gittins who had taken the transfer and tagged along for the score. Novos 19, Medicals 0.

Big swing occurred when Medicals won a penalty and kicked it to within 8-10m of our line. We couldve been driven over for 19-7 but instead Rob Baldwin won the ball at the lineout and set off. He then fed Michael Searle, lift to Harry Tankard and with a well timed pass gave Max Cook a two on one. Show and go from Cook as he raced in from 60m for a devastating blow to Medicals. Conversion added by Josh Farley for a half time score of 26-0.

Louis Matthews on for Andrew Kirton but we didnt make any other changes as we knew Meds were going to get into us for ten mins. As expected Matthews set the tone with a huge shot, a great read in defence from Rob Baldwin before Sam Busby got the steal. Response from Medicals thwarted so we took the decision to rest Jonny Cotterill - big game for him the next day for the U20's. Kirton back on.

The second half was far too hectic as both sides threw the ball round and played some high risk rugby. We did nail one piece of structured play on a Medicals feed we folded their scrum. Cam Wallace scooped up the lose ball and proceeded to perform a great face plant whilst going in untouched. Try converted by Josh Farley to kill the game off at 33-0.

With the game won it all got a bit tetchy as Medicals copped two yellows, Cam Wallace was yellowed for us. David Medjigbodo-Lawson came on for a 20 min cameo and instantly helped win another tighthead. In the closing exchanges Josh Farley hit a beautiful 50/22 from our own red zone. Rob Baldwin got in another big shot and Andrew Kirton got a turn over.

Boys were gutted Medicals got a consolation try at the end to make the final score 33-5. However, the game was much more even when the game went uncontested at scrum time. Annoying for us, given they had five lads listed as being front row trained.

Thanks to Sam Evans for being an unused sub - with the game secure we chose not to put him on so he could focus on playing ten for the County 20's on Sunday. Good luck to him, Jonny Cotterill, Sam Cleife and Solomon Mak against Cheshire.

Nice moment when one of our own - Ant McQuillin presented the McQuillin Jug to Dylan Gittins. Nice little speech about his Gramps who kept Medicals RFC alive during some difficult times.

Thanks to Adam Morrison who reffed the game - a great display of decision making. Not easy when one side is so dominant at scrum time. However, both sides played some fast-paced rugby despite the conditions. We are lucky to have a ref of his standard for a level 7 game.

Novos boys - a huge result given we had only won two out of the last seven league games away to Medicals. Although we are two from two in this seasons four match series. Yes - we have them in the cup in two weeks time before playing them at home in the league in April. Next week we have a stern test at Fortress Vos as 4th placed Horden arrive at Sutherland Park. Sure to be a cracker so get down and cheer the lads on. Nine games to go, one point ahead of Ryton.

Up the Vos.

Photo courtesy of Chris Brown - Jonny Cotterill rises above the rest to claim a lineout win vs Stockton

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