Novos shoot themselves in the foot!

Novos day didn't start well, the midweek rain making the pitches unplayable meant they had to switch the fixture to Barmoor, the Ryton home to avoid another dreaded weekend off. An emergency call to Thomas Armitage to travel from University to fill in at scrum half didn't help matters, that young Choppa is a class Scrum half and more than able replacement is not in doubt, but such a late change in such a key position can only unsettle things.

Ryton started strongly, as they often do but Novos didn't seem to have to work too hard to keep them from scoring and whilst the start was lethargic there was enough to suggest Novos could more than cope with everything Ryton had to offer in attack and would come back into the game.

Ryton did find a way through on about 15 minutes when the back line charged up in defence but left a dog leg which the big Ryton centre barged through before offloading for their Fly half to score and convert his own try. Minutes later a rather harsh penalty gave Ryton the chance to move 10 - 0 ahead. This seemed to kick start Novos and a consistent period of pressure and continual Ryton obstruction, hanging on, not rolling away etc gave Richard Lamb a chance to secure Novos first points with a penalty. The half ended 10 - 3 to Ryton.

Novos started the 2nd half very brightly and for 20 minutes totally dominated their hosts, an outstanding break from Thomas Armitage and a sweeping counter attack began by Ben Merrett were particular highlights.

From one such move Richy Lamb made an incisive break from the wing and found Matty Bradford who set up a maul that was driven over by the forwards to score, Alex Littlefair emerging from the mass of bodies as the scorer, Richy Lamb adding the conversion to level the scores. Novos looked like they would kick on and continued to dominate until a crazy last 15 minutes that saw Ryton rack up 3 tries and 20 points meaning Jonny Wards 75th minute try was merely a scant consolation.

The ref blew for full time on a 30 - 17 loss and left Novos to consider how they threw the opportunity away.

Ponteland also gained a bonus point win meaning Novos slip two places to hover precariously one place above the relegation places, 15 points ahead of Wallsend who onimously have 3 games in hand - Time for people to stand up and be counted.

One of the positives was a debut for young second row Dale Raine who looked solid and a good prospect.

Next week Novos travel to Stockton looking to bounce back.