Right up until 1030 on Saturday morning we were not too sure of our final squad as unavailability of Rhys Gibbons, Sol Mak, Ollie Forster, Sion Gittins, Morgan Scrace, FIn Ruddock and Jonny McSorley has led to a bit of a front row crisis at the back end of the season. Thankfully, with the help of Nick Cotterill and Doug Kay we were able to register Callum Todd as cover four hours prior to the kick off.

Incredible depth shown by our squad when you think that the likes of Darren Kelly, George Jowitt, Harry Tankard, Lewis Chater were also unavailable.

We had prepared pretty well (we thought) spending the rest week working on chop tackling and jackaling to try find ways to get the ball back against a huge Ryton side. However, in the early exchanges we were set an awful tone although our attacking play delivered after two low-scoring games. Praise must go to player coach Michael Searle, with two good attacking sessions in training working on moving the ball edge to edge.

We chose to kick off and Ryton ran straight over us - dominating the gain line as we tackled far too high. They should have opened the scoring early doors - a few of their lads celebrating as a big boy ran into Josh Farley one metre from the line. Somehow Farley stripped the ball of him when he looked certain to score !

Eventually, Ryton capatilised on early pressure to take a 3-0 lead after missing an earlier shot at goal.

After 10-15 mins we finally started to get into the game and attacked in Ryton's 22. Ben Rodgers with a great throw to the tail of the lineout. We carried round the corner with Michael Searle crashing over with Jeremy Hunt driving him through 2-3 tacklers. Farley added the two from close range for an unlikely 7-3 lead.

We went bang bang as from the kick off Josh Farley put up his now famous "Garryowen" the Ryton lads looked upward but didnt move as Adam Lambert raced to regather it. Farley who had chased his own kick then got the pass from Lambert to race in from 50m then converted his own try to make it 14-3.

Despite Ryton dominating the gain line it was Novos that were dominating territory as time and time again Josh Farley turned the big Ryton back round. His probing kicks into the corner were creating counter attacking opportunities for our pacey backs. Ryton tried to kick out from their 22m and we were sitting back waiting. Adam Lambert with the early pass to Josh Farley who jinked his way to the middle of the park. George Bambrick had ran to the edge and broke down the sideline. Inside ball to Tom Taylor - where did he come from ? The loosehead gave another inside ball for Rob Baldwin to maintain his push for the leagues top tryscorer. 19-3 at half time.

All three subs on including Callum todd for his debut and despite the score line a bit of a rollicking about the state of our defence around the ruck.

We set a much better tone in defence with some big hits from Rob Baldwin, Michael Searle and Ben Jubb. In the early exchanges we tried to put the game to bed but missed two tries with forward passes.

This game saw us try 2-3 new linout launches and it was amazing to see us score off one of the ones we learned on Thursday night. Callum todd with a great pass back to Josh Farley and we had too much width for the Ryton defence. Sam Busby stepping through an over chasing defensive line and tearing up field. Great support from Ben Jubb before he made the pass for Adam Lambert to get his first try for the 1st xv. Conversion added by Josh Farley for 26-3.

With Novos in control the game then got a bit spicy with chirping back and forth between the two teams. This dragged Ryton back into the mix and they scored a couple of tries from close quarters to rally to 26-13. This sprung the boys back into action as Sam Busby got us over the gain line. Again, we went out the back to Josh Farley and with some insane footwork and a great pass we were over again. Michael Searle getting the pass then offloading out of the tackle for Ben rodgers to also get his first try for the 1st xv.

The game was now wrapped up but the chirping continued and the ref had enough putting Michael Searle and Ryton ten in the bin. From the restart their was a meeting of minds in back play and a fight occurred. Too their credit most of the Ryton lads played on and scored a good try to make it 33-18. However, the fight soured what had been a hard-fought away win for the lads.

Thanks to the ref Andy Black - arguably the best Durham Society Ref we have had this season.

Cheers to the Ryton lads - some big boys who smashed into us throughout the 80. The food afterwards was top notch as well.

Next week we play Rockcliff who nearly got their first win of the season. A few changes expected this week with some lads and the England match. The boys will want to esnure it isnt us that give them their first win.

Up the Vos !