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Super 2's start their first league fixture with a bang!! With a little help from the 3's!!
Gareth Bowden4 Sep 2016 - 15:11
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Teamwork and passion won the day! By Mike Cousins
"Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out"
- Unknown
The moment we've waited all summer for has arrived. The return to league rugby with a bang.
It was a difficult week for the backroom staff at Sutherland Park, with a multitude of unavailable players and injuries, the decision was made to regrettably cancel the People's Republic 3rd XV clash in order to bulk out the Super 2s.
Novos arrived at Preston Avenue with a squad of 19. Following a last minute shuffle in the changing room the starting XV of Richardson, Lithgow, Bulfin, Harrison, Bird, Binmore, Leonard,Forbes, Dearden, Graham, Thomas, Ball (c), Foster, Whitaker and Tweedie took to the field, with O'Keeffe, MacDonald, Hemming and Pease making up the bench.
Park kicked off the new season by introducing themselves to Luke Foster who knocked on a slippy ball before recovering it and being smashed for his troubles.
Novos packed down for their first scrummage of the day. Easily giving away a stone plus per man, the spectators grimaced as Park bullied the Novos Pack. Park shipped the ball left to right and then back again and were looking to snatch an early lead in the corner if it wasn't for Nick Lithgow putting in a massive hit and forcing the player into touch 2m from the line.
Novos were put under pressure for the next 5 mins with Park attacking in waves. Some huge hits being put in by the likes of Tweedie, Whitaker and Foster however one in particular by Leonard who ended his oppo's afternoon after a crushing hit that left the Park player with a dislocated shoulder (all at Novos wish him a speedy recovery).
Tweedie the turnover machine was in full force and allowed Novos to break outside of the 22 with Harrison carrying on the touchline...what followed can only be described as THE most outrageous offload to Lithgow who romped through the midfield tackles before offloading to Richardson who scored under the posts. Harrison adding the simple conversion.
Park 0-7 Novos.
Park seemed to wake up at this point and again attacked with their man-mountain sized forwards before a very good score in the corner shortly after. A difficult conversion from the byline was duly slotted by Park's 10 who had a hell of a boot on him.
Park 7-7 Novos.
The calls from the touchline were for Novos to keep their heads up and keep their discipline. From the kick off, Foster managed to injure a Park prop as he swung around the legs of the fielding player.
The hits going in from both sides were huge...if not a little high which called for both captains to tell their players to keep their tackles low or a card would be shown.
Park continued to dominate with their massive scrum, however on the 30 minute mark, the Novos Pack managed to nudge them backwards to cheers from the travelling faithful.
Park managed to camp themselves inside Novos' 22 with continual waves of offense. Novos' defence however was absolutely resolute and a wild pass 5m from the line by Park was plucked from the air by Richardson who gassed a 95m interception try. Conversion missed.
Park 7-12 Novos. Halftime.
Novos came out second gear straight from the kick off and after a multi phase period of attack, the ball was spread wide to Ball who was virtually unchallenged as he crossed the line. Conversion missed.
Park 7-17 Novos.
Novos found themselves defending their own 22 following some big carries from Park, until Ball found a gap and sauntered upfield drawing 3 men in the process, and with a complete and utter look of confusion that he'd ran 45m without being snotted, managed to offload to Lithgow who did his best juggling act in midfield before offloading to the tackle and turnover machine, Tweedie to dot down under the posts. Conversion added (just) by Harrison.
Park 7-24 Novos.
Park found their third gear after this and went to town on a tiring Novos XV. Some strong running from their front 5 really tested Novos defence and when their replacement prop looked like he was certain to score with 3 Novos klingons, however, Graham was forced from the field as a result of this with an ankle injury. A 5m scrum was formed and after another dart for the line, Harrison was forced from the field to join his 'brah' on the touchline with a knock to his knee.
After a few changes, including the 2nd XV debut for 17 year old MacDonald, Novos found themselves pinned inside the 22 and after a great bit of play, Park looked destined to score. Ball making a try saving tackle into touch.
Novos were tiring fast and Park scored two quick fire tries to bring the score to Park 17-24 Novos which remained until the final whistle.
In the huddle afterwards, the words 'heart' and 'teamwork' were commonly used phrases.
A lot of positives from the game, very strong performances from the likes of Tweedie, Leonard, Foster and eventual MoTM Whitaker. The ability for so many players to step up at short notice from the 3rd XV and into a difficult league was remarkable. All thanks and praise go to the 19 lads who turned up to represent the club. Every single player gave 100% for the cause.
Hopefully, same again next week!
It was a difficult week for the backroom staff at Sutherland Park, with a multitude of unavailable players and injuries, the decision was made to regrettably cancel the People's Republic 3rd XV clash in order to bulk out the Super 2s.
Novos arrived at Preston Avenue with a squad of 19. Following a last minute shuffle in the changing room the starting XV of Richardson, Lithgow, Bulfin, Harrison, Bird, Binmore, Leonard,Forbes, Dearden, Graham, Thomas, Ball (c), Foster, Whitaker and Tweedie took to the field, with O'Keeffe, MacDonald, Hemming and Pease making up the bench.
Park kicked off the new season by introducing themselves to Luke Foster who knocked on a slippy ball before recovering it and being smashed for his troubles.
Novos packed down for their first scrummage of the day. Easily giving away a stone plus per man, the spectators grimaced as Park bullied the Novos Pack. Park shipped the ball left to right and then back again and were looking to snatch an early lead in the corner if it wasn't for Nick Lithgow putting in a massive hit and forcing the player into touch 2m from the line.
Novos were put under pressure for the next 5 mins with Park attacking in waves. Some huge hits being put in by the likes of Tweedie, Whitaker and Foster however one in particular by Leonard who ended his oppo's afternoon after a crushing hit that left the Park player with a dislocated shoulder (all at Novos wish him a speedy recovery).
Tweedie the turnover machine was in full force and allowed Novos to break outside of the 22 with Harrison carrying on the touchline...what followed can only be described as THE most outrageous offload to Lithgow who romped through the midfield tackles before offloading to Richardson who scored under the posts. Harrison adding the simple conversion.
Park 0-7 Novos.
Park seemed to wake up at this point and again attacked with their man-mountain sized forwards before a very good score in the corner shortly after. A difficult conversion from the byline was duly slotted by Park's 10 who had a hell of a boot on him.
Park 7-7 Novos.
The calls from the touchline were for Novos to keep their heads up and keep their discipline. From the kick off, Foster managed to injure a Park prop as he swung around the legs of the fielding player.
The hits going in from both sides were huge...if not a little high which called for both captains to tell their players to keep their tackles low or a card would be shown.
Park continued to dominate with their massive scrum, however on the 30 minute mark, the Novos Pack managed to nudge them backwards to cheers from the travelling faithful.
Park managed to camp themselves inside Novos' 22 with continual waves of offense. Novos' defence however was absolutely resolute and a wild pass 5m from the line by Park was plucked from the air by Richardson who gassed a 95m interception try. Conversion missed.
Park 7-12 Novos. Halftime.
Novos came out second gear straight from the kick off and after a multi phase period of attack, the ball was spread wide to Ball who was virtually unchallenged as he crossed the line. Conversion missed.
Park 7-17 Novos.
Novos found themselves defending their own 22 following some big carries from Park, until Ball found a gap and sauntered upfield drawing 3 men in the process, and with a complete and utter look of confusion that he'd ran 45m without being snotted, managed to offload to Lithgow who did his best juggling act in midfield before offloading to the tackle and turnover machine, Tweedie to dot down under the posts. Conversion added (just) by Harrison.
Park 7-24 Novos.
Park found their third gear after this and went to town on a tiring Novos XV. Some strong running from their front 5 really tested Novos defence and when their replacement prop looked like he was certain to score with 3 Novos klingons, however, Graham was forced from the field as a result of this with an ankle injury. A 5m scrum was formed and after another dart for the line, Harrison was forced from the field to join his 'brah' on the touchline with a knock to his knee.
After a few changes, including the 2nd XV debut for 17 year old MacDonald, Novos found themselves pinned inside the 22 and after a great bit of play, Park looked destined to score. Ball making a try saving tackle into touch.
Novos were tiring fast and Park scored two quick fire tries to bring the score to Park 17-24 Novos which remained until the final whistle.
In the huddle afterwards, the words 'heart' and 'teamwork' were commonly used phrases.
A lot of positives from the game, very strong performances from the likes of Tweedie, Leonard, Foster and eventual MoTM Whitaker. The ability for so many players to step up at short notice from the 3rd XV and into a difficult league was remarkable. All thanks and praise go to the 19 lads who turned up to represent the club. Every single player gave 100% for the cause.
Hopefully, same again next week!
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