The visitors stuck to the task throughout, but had no answer to the power of City’s running and quality of their off-loading game on the day and within the opening 11 minutes conceded 3 tries to trail 17 – 0,

Flanker Howard Johnson got the first when the pack turned a ruck over and good handling left him clear to score from 10 metres. A strong 30 metre run by winger Tom Elliott then finished off a good attack from a scrum in midfield and centre Chris Metcalfe followed him over the line having taken a pop-pass from stand-off Craig Dominick to run in from 15 metres for full-back Rob Smith to convert.

Patient phase-play and good off-loading produced the next try for No.8 Peter Dent under the posts, Smith converting to stretch the lead to 24 – 0 before Novos suddenly hit back, an interception 40 metres out allowing stand-off Lewis Chater to race home and winger Rory Duncan to convert.

Two more City tries quickly followed after the interval, Dent getting his second when a flat pass by scrum-half Will Paxton put him through a hole in the visitors’ defence 20 metres out and Metcalfe then registering his second after a fine pick-up by Dominick and Dent off-load. Smith converted both to extend their lead to 38 – 7.

But back came Novos with a series of attacks before another interception gave full-back Ben Wollerton a clear run to the line from halfway and replacement Greg Humphreyson an easy conversion.

The final flourish was City’s however as they added a further 3 tries in the last 10 minutes. Smith joined the backline to round the last defender and score in the right corner from a lineout on the other side, debutant winger James cook was driven over under the posts after Dominick had broken and excellent off-loading opened the way and finally Dent completed his hat-trick taking the ball from the re-start and waltzing through the visitors’ defence to score.

Smith converted one of the three to take his tally to five for the day and secure a comprehensive win.

CITY: Rob Smith; Tom Elliott, Brad Pears, Chris Metcalfe, James Cook; Craig Dominick, Will Paxton; Kenny Reader, Austin Anderson, Benny Parkinson, Kevin Showler, Tom Wilkinson, Howard Johnson, Dan Holden, Peter Dent (c).

Replacements: Kyle Wilson, Mark Davison, Max Bailey.