In a start more reminiscent of last season where omne initium difficile est (google it), we conceded the first score of the game. Novos 10 made a hash of a kick through but we were slower to react on the loose ball, with one of the back row coasting in to the left of the sticks away from the club house. 0-5 with the conversation just short after 7 minutes.

Two minutes later we went into the lead, one we wouldn't concede for the remainder of the contest. A classic powerful hit from 'Tank 2.0' Ollie Connelly forced a spilled ball, we moved it along two passes before Siddle made a great bust and utilised Lewis Scott down the left to dot down, his try total is now catching up to his Children in Need money raised.
7-5 with the conversion.

Pudsey was again in action for the next score, he caught a poor clearance kick and made a great break through a would be tackle and passed to the impressive Charlie Kay (on his first start). The ball was ripped in the tackle but landed in the hands of speedster Max Tennant, who pinned his ears back scoring in the corner with a preemptive celebratory fist pump (hotly debated by the fans on the terrace).
Conversation missed..12-5.

Novos were still very competitive and dominated the breakdown with regular 'pick and goes' and strong running on the fringes of the ruck but were struggling to make any real yardage at this point and the game was a little scrappy. They began to play the ball a little wider but again a poor chip from their winger out wide was gladly accepted into the arms of Will Hilditch to run in for an opportunist try from just outside the defensive 22. Some may say an element of luck however the old adage that you make your own luck is more accurate as Will scored a similar effort last week. Kick missed and 17-5 after the first quarter, without us really getting out of second gear in attack.

We received a penalty infront of the posts after some good build up play and opted to kick to the corner. The throw was overthrown at the back and Novos dived on the scraps but after a couple of phases' a poor kick clearance was again Novos downfall. Captain Davy Heckles caught the ball out wide, with the supporters expecting his usual 'run it back at em hard' play, he sent a long pass back in field to West's favourite farmer Sam Heron. From about 30m out he struck a sublime drop goal between the sticks....old school and enjoyable for the supporters of a certain age (most of us) infront of the club. 20-5 with 5 mins until the break.

We would just play the rest of the half out now and build on the score in the second half.....or would we? Our first up tackling and Novos had other ideas as they crashed over to the left of the posts after some strong carries. 20-10.

We were then penalised for pulling down an attacking maul (dubious in my opinion) and from the subsequent lineout option, Novos pack secured their third try of the day just before half time. Converted to put the unlikely score 20-17 at HT.

With the score now very close, both sides were vying for dominance and looking to make the first real impact in the second period and the first ten minutes was scrappy and stop/start. Our strength in depth this season was evident, not only with the first XV bench today but the plethora of players with the stags disappointed they weren't in this squad.

Regular Captian and reformed 'referees nightmare' Ryan Painter entered the fray not long into the half, replacing Sam at 9. In classic Roo style, he had a point to prove having missed the last game through a shoulder injury. We showed our ever improving handling and interplay to work our way up the pitch, resulting in Roo notching for the try to the left of the posts. It would appear that the ball turned into a bag of mince for the conversation...25-17 after around 55 mins.

Two further changes from the bench saw Chrissy Atkins and Alex Johnson join the pack and add some heft and experience, a welcome addition at this stage. With a more solid scrum, Jay Corbett was picking clean ball from the base and had options/time to crash it up or set the backs away. He chose option 2 near the 60min mark, Siddle put a fantastic cross field kick in, Hidlitch took the bouncing ball at speed, cut to his left to go in under the posts, converted by the architect. Good luck or good judgement with the kick?...only honest Sid knows. 32-17, technically game over and BP secured but we weren't quite done.

The game was a little scrappy again in the final quarter with Novos still grafting for everything and making inroads. A rare ruck turnover was secured by hooker Aiden Jackson-Smith and we broke with Painter up the pitch, being held up over the line. The resulting goal line drop out landed in the arms of the backs, a switch on the wing with Hilditch saw him break up field and resulting in a great finish by Roo Painter for his second of the day...39-17 with the conversion from the hard hitting Siddle.

Novos continued to press for a further try pressuring the line with catch and drive lineouts and good ruck play but we're regularly thwarted by the pack, Atkins, Kay and Johnson prominent. The newly reformed Painter, rolled back the months and was yellow carded on 74 mins, not sure what for but I understand it wasn't 'his fault'. Novos got the final try from a penalty, opting for a lineout and driving over..37-24.

We finished the game strongly and would have scored in the final minutes had Siddle not been pulled up for crossing.

We are playing some great rugby at the minute, continuing to build an exciting style of play with great strength in depth in both senior sides. Well deserved winners to day but with so much more to come...exciting times ahead.

AD VICTORIAM

Ref:8.9/10
Food: multiple options for all pallets 9/10.
Dogs: several well behaved breeds on show on the sidelines 10/10
Guinness: 6 pints (Inc blackcurrant)10/10