Novos 3rds 26 Rockcliff Vikings 66
The Vikings kept up their recent run of good form with this victory in CANDY 3 North at Sutherland Park, their fourth away game on the bounce, and their third victory in a row. A close match was expected, as only five points separated the teams before kick-off and both sides having started well in the league, with the Vikings having won four from six, and Novos three from five. Travelling with a twenty-four man squad the Vikings were however able to put the game to bed in the second half after changing ends with the score at 38 21 in their favour.
Novos kicked off, playing downhill towards what was, before the drainage works of 2022, known as the swamp. Backing onto neighbour’s property, the goals are too close to accommodate conversions, so all tries scored at this end of the pitch automatically count for seven points.
Michael Cooper got a player of the match performance off to a great start, powering through the home defence from twenty metres out to score under the posts. Matty Brister duly converted for 7 0 after two minutes. This spurred Novos into action and they were on level terms within three minutes, when they scored a try which carried the automatic conversion.
A breathless spell for the Vikings followed, with Adam Robinson and Liam Hardy both crossing to score, and Brister converting Hardy’s try for 19 7 with eleven minutes on the clock.
Again Novos fought back, hitting their own purple patch and their inside centre scored twice to take his side into a narrow lead, with the score 21 19 in Novos favour after twenty two minutes.
The game was well balanced leading up to the thirty minute mark, but then the Vikings struck with three tries in the final ten minutes of the half. Barry Irving finished a sweeping move, racing in down the right wing to score in the corner. Brister converted brilliantly from the touchline for 26 21. Not to be outdone, Alfie Bell then finished a move down the left wing, cutting in behind the goal line to touch down under the posts. Brister converted to extend the visitor’s advantage.
Finally, on the stroke of half time, Zak Cook scored, unconverted, for 38 21 at the break.
With the benefit of the slope and fresh legs in the second half, the scene was set for a runaway forty minutes, but Novos were still in the game and the Vikings had to work hard to contain them. It took a quarter of an hour before an attack down the right wing was finished off by Irving, and 45 21.
After being penalised with two yellow cards in quick succession, the Vikings had their work cut out to contain Novos, who launched wave after wave of attack but somehow the visitors defence held out.
Jonny Gould relieved the pressure when he fly hacked through from half way and dribbled over the line for try number two of the second stanza. Two minutes later, Rob Straker ran the ball in down the left wing, scoring in the corner for 59 21.
A dazzling run by Gould looked certain to result in another try for the Cardinal and Golds, but he graciously handed the ball over to the opposition number eight, who gratefully scuttled back up field with it.
Connor Ball completed the scoring for Rockcliff when he touched down for Rockcliff’s tenth try of the match.
The final say in the game came when Novos finally got the score their efforts deserved, with their left winger cutting in and breaking the Vikings defence for their fourth and bonus point earning try.
Overall this was a great performance by the Vikings, with a good blend of youth and experience augering well for the rest of the season
The Vikings kept up their recent run of good form with this victory in CANDY 3 North at Sutherland Park, their fourth away game on the bounce, and their third victory in a row. A close match was expected, as only five points separated the teams before kick-off and both sides having started well in the league, with the Vikings having won four from six, and Novos three from five. Travelling with a twenty-four man squad the Vikings were however able to put the game to bed in the second half after changing ends with the score at 38 21 in their favour.
Novos kicked off, playing downhill towards what was, before the drainage works of 2022, known as the swamp. Backing onto neighbour’s property, the goals are too close to accommodate conversions, so all tries scored at this end of the pitch automatically count for seven points.
Michael Cooper got a player of the match performance off to a great start, powering through the home defence from twenty metres out to score under the posts. Matty Brister duly converted for 7 0 after two minutes. This spurred Novos into action and they were on level terms within three minutes, when they scored a try which carried the automatic conversion.
A breathless spell for the Vikings followed, with Adam Robinson and Liam Hardy both crossing to score, and Brister converting Hardy’s try for 19 7 with eleven minutes on the clock.
Again Novos fought back, hitting their own purple patch and their inside centre scored twice to take his side into a narrow lead, with the score 21 19 in Novos favour after twenty two minutes.
The game was well balanced leading up to the thirty minute mark, but then the Vikings struck with three tries in the final ten minutes of the half. Barry Irving finished a sweeping move, racing in down the right wing to score in the corner. Brister converted brilliantly from the touchline for 26 21. Not to be outdone, Alfie Bell then finished a move down the left wing, cutting in behind the goal line to touch down under the posts. Brister converted to extend the visitor’s advantage.
Finally, on the stroke of half time, Zak Cook scored, unconverted, for 38 21 at the break.
With the benefit of the slope and fresh legs in the second half, the scene was set for a runaway forty minutes, but Novos were still in the game and the Vikings had to work hard to contain them. It took a quarter of an hour before an attack down the right wing was finished off by Irving, and 45 21.
After being penalised with two yellow cards in quick succession, the Vikings had their work cut out to contain Novos, who launched wave after wave of attack but somehow the visitors defence held out.
Jonny Gould relieved the pressure when he fly hacked through from half way and dribbled over the line for try number two of the second stanza. Two minutes later, Rob Straker ran the ball in down the left wing, scoring in the corner for 59 21.
A dazzling run by Gould looked certain to result in another try for the Cardinal and Golds, but he graciously handed the ball over to the opposition number eight, who gratefully scuttled back up field with it.
Connor Ball completed the scoring for Rockcliff when he touched down for Rockcliff’s tenth try of the match.
The final say in the game came when Novos finally got the score their efforts deserved, with their left winger cutting in and breaking the Vikings defence for their fourth and bonus point earning try.
Overall this was a great performance by the Vikings, with a good blend of youth and experience augering well for the rest of the season
