Another perfect day for playing rugby greeted Novos Panthers as they took to the field to take on Sheffield Ladies team, a top of the table match with Sheffield looking for a second win and the Panthers hungry for a second clean sheet in a row.

A solid Novos side received the kick off, taking just six minutes for Scrum Half Shauna Veitch to put one over the try line. A hard fought further 10 minutes saw an impassioned forward ‘donkey’ try, taken over the line by Vice Captain Alice ‘Hungover’ Workman, her first semi-professional career try since she first pulled on her boots all those years ago!

Sheffield came back fighting with a set of tough scrums, bettering the forwards for the best part of the first half. Unfortunately for them the Panthers defence was just too good, and a further brace of tries from fullback Helen Kane within 10 minutes rounded off the first half of the match with Novos leading 20 to Sheffield’s 0.

The second half saw a true test of fitness as Sheffield injuries continued to hamper their efforts. Although a very stop-start first 20 minutes Novos didn’t lose their heads, keeping themselves in the zone throughout all of the distractions. It took just 11 minutes for another Novos try to hit the line, giving Shauna Veitch her hat trick try. As the Panthers superior fitness began to show Shauna got her fourth just 3 minutes later.

Novos used the second half to show the strength on the bench, with replacements Jo Geary-Rathbone, Emily Yarrow, Emma Moralee, Clare Gent and Rachael Moses all taking to field. A try from Captain Janette Shaw came in the 66th minute, with the conversion from Helen Kane the cherry on the bakewell tart!

After two superb running lines Rachel Cooper scored not once but twice to add another 10 points to the tally, with Flanker Selina ‘Afro’ Makin sealing the deal and making it a round total of 10 tries on a sunny but rather chilly Sunday afternoon.

A massive thanks goes to all the supporters for their lovely (and possibly wine fuelled) encouragement from the sidelines, the Water Girls, Med Bag carriers and subs, and Coaches Chris ‘Nipper’ Fife and Dave ‘Happy Addy’ Addison for their help and support.

Coming Soon – Cheese n Wine Report (Who ate all the brie?!)