We definitely played our part as willing hosts in this exhibition of running rugby, old school songs and beers drunk with our opponents into the early hours of Sunday morning !

Ant McQuillin words pre match certainly fired the boys up and they got off to a flyer with current colt Harrison Allan-Evans pulling the strings. Alex Histed score our first try after a blocker shape went out the back - Oliver Harris feeding Histed who kicked ahead and beat everyone to the ball.

We immediately scored again as Allan-Evans probed a dog legged defence, Harris fed Dan Vicary and he passed back inside to Allan-Evans who had tracked his fellow backs.

Within ten mins we had grabbed our third try with Jamie McCormick on debut carrying hard before off loading to Tom Westagrth who sprinted in from 50m. From the kick off Seb Shilling punched a hole down the middle and Harris and McCormick exchanged passes, with Harris getting the ball back to go under the sticks.

The touring side were still finding their feet after the early barrage as Allan-Evans went through another disorganised defence to put in McCormick again.

A change of ref at 31-0 in fifteen mins saw a change of fortune for our visitiors as off went the society ref with calf issues and on came head coach, Magnus Leask looking even less mobile than the departing official. Novos broke through from the restart but were pulled back for a backwards pass that looked forward to the ref 20m away. From the scrum Rush RFC rolled back the years with a classic "rangi" and the centre went in and received a high five from the ref - hmm... 31-7.

The rest of the game was incredibly competitive as Rush had the night before beers visibly leaving their system. McCormick and Histed scored again but our tourists added two of their own, one of them scored by our very own Lex Leonard. Histed and McCormick bagged hat tricks in the closing stages whilst Rush scored from a huge scrum and possibly the try of the day as they went 100m to score in the last ten mins. The final Novos tries of the day went to Takreeem Faheem , Westgarth and Stewart Wilson.

Thank you to all those that helped out in providing food as the festivities carried on well into the night. Rush RFC, contained within Schager Sports Complex, in the city of Schagen - we salute you. What great lads you were - out singing the local lads and showing how important touring remains. Challenge to our lads to get organised and get overseas !

Was great to see both club members rampaging through the Bigg Market and surrounding areas in Newcastle until Sunday morning.

Rugby for all, rugby for life.

Novo