In our 125th anniversary year Saturday was a great occasion on Saturday as RGS Old Boys were well represented thanks to the efforts of Daryl Baker. In addition, it was great to get John Elders family down to witness a cracking match on a day when we honour memory of him and his efforts with the school, our club and England rugby.

RGS started really well and dominated early exchanges - running the ball from everywhere. Although, there first try just didn't seem right - legal perhaps but it just seems wrong. They carried near the line and Sion Gittins and Rob Baldwin held the ball carrier up just short of the line and the ball all wrapped up. Asked to "release" they did so and were surprised to then see the attacker promote the ball over the line. Think we were all expecting to see the ball presented backwards. Try unconverted for a deserved 5-0 lead.

The RGS side was full of balance - some hard working forwards with great basics and some real gas out wide. We put in what looked a decent clearance kick but the middle of the line didn't come up. The RGS winger raced through the middle and scorched in from 50m for a great individual try. 10-0 RGS.

We finally got into the game 13-15 mins in with Eoghan Phillips setting the tone. He jumped out of the defensive line and put a huge shot into the ribs of an RGS attacker. The ball spilled out and we were on the attack. Novos also wanted to play fast and from a penalty Ben Jubb took the quick tap and Sion Gittins raced onto the ball. 20m out he stepped the last defender and dove in for a try converted by Josh Farley for 7-10.

Just before the end of the half we went on the attack again as a kick in behind was scooped up by Sion Gittins, he in turn fed Rob Baldwin who bounced off defenders as is customary for him. Back in our opponents 22m after a kick in behind from Josh Farley, Ben Jubb got over the ball and won a penalty. Without delay he took the tap and crashed over to put us into the lead 12-10 at half time.

On came our subs who had great balance in current colt Jonny Cotterill, last years colts - Ben Stocken and Tom Westgarth. The experience being provided by George Bambrick returning after weeks out, Ant McQuillan and Gavin Wilson. In addition, it was amazing to see DMP's Ryan Gibson once again put a Novos shirt on.

With the half time chat about bringing added physicality and better support play at ruck time we started the second half really well.

Novos extended their lead after a lineout drive was well executed with Dylan Gittins protecting the ball well before sliding it back for his brother Sion to score. Josh Farley with another conversion for 19-10.

We were well on top during the 3rd quarter and went further ahead as Josh Farley found Ben Jubb on a hard line to drive over two would be tacklers. Again, conversion added by Josh Farley - Vos up 26-10.

Despite a line break from Ben Jubb at the kick off it was RGS that suddenly sprung back into action. Suspect turnover at the breakdown from an RGS lad who didn't look onside but fair play as he put in a great off load and they were off to the races again. The ball was fed out to one of their forwards but everyone was very surprised to see his turn of speed as raced in 50m for the try. Unconverted so Vos up 26-15.

Then came RGS's best try of the day as we sliced the kick off in field and they went 80m for another score with a flurry of offloads due to some great support play. Game on 26-20 and RGS Old Boys dominating the last ten mins.

With 15 mins to play we once again grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck driving into our opponents 22. Dylan Gittins went from the back of the scrum and the tackler was penalised for not rolling. Rob Baldwin tapped and went as he crashed in for our third try of the day from quick taps. Conversion added by Lewis Chater to put Vos out to 33-20.

Our final try was pretty much a replica of the previous one as Dylan Gittins broke off the scrum and lifted the ball to Rob Baldwin - who was now delighted to be in the centres. He bounced of some defenders to crash over for the try which was converted by Lewis Chater for a final score of 40-20.

All in all a fantastic game between two sides who wanted to move the ball - very impressed with some of their players including the familiar faces of Toby Peach and Matthew Hayes who play for Medicals. In addition, the Vos boys who played for them - Dylan Parr and Freddie Nickalls. Their basics were excellent with some great chop tackling against older opponents and their handling and support play was fantastic to watch. Be great if those lads currently not attached to a club got down and put the Vos shirt on in the new year. Get in touch with Magnus Leask (07904435993) if that's something you'd be interested in.

To our lads - always great to see our uni lads return during the holiday season and put the shirt on. What the club is all about. Been great to get games on the 21st and 28th as we head into Sunderland on the 4th January. If we want the rot to set in we will need to be at our best to cause the upset we need to get back in the race for promotion.

Thank you to our team of three in Mike Bowers, Graham Crozier and our very own Neil Murphy. Incredible for us to get that kind of support from the refs society in what is always a busy festive period.

Up the Vos !

Novocastrians RFC

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