Houghton traveled again this week to get a fixture after another cry off by Gosforth with several players playing out of position and a reduced squad due to late cry offs and players not turning up!!

Novocastrians who were hosting a post players day put out a very strong side to play the Boars, this didn't phase the men in black and white though as they went on the offensive from the first kick, playing most of the first 5 minutes in Novo's 22. The Boars scrum was excellent and was winning turn over ball as well as their own (this carried on throughout the match with only a small blip in the middle). One ruck early on saw Neil 'mad for the cage' McKnight let out some home frustrations on the Novo flanker for the entering the ruck from the side with a 1-2 combination that Iron Mike Tyson would have been proud of, bizarre moments then occurred - the ref dragged McKnight off the young flanker and then let play continue with no yellow or even a stern talking too!! lucky boy McKnight!!
Some very strong carries by Capt. Richard Lydiatt and Darren 'black 6' Schofield however the Novo's defense around the breakdown was very very strong giving the Boars little room to work with.
Eventually after a sustained attack by the Boars they ran out of numbers and the ball was turned over, a few good strong runs from their pack setup space out wide for their pacey winger who caught the ball, out ran two defenders on the outside, chipped over crazy Johnny the full back and slid in for their first try - converted 7-0.

The Boars rallied and went straight back on the offensive with yet more possession in the Novo's half but their defense was absolutely brilliant and despite good penetrating runs from Ashy and Lee B there was little platform to work from Shepherd kicked to the corner, great chase from Whitaker but he was in front of the kicker - Boars pinned back by a good penalty kick. Shortly after this they scored their second try of the day which was very similar to the first - just too much pace out-wide 12 - 0.
Scrums held well and the Boars first up tackling was very good from Crazy Johnny, Lee B, Connor B, Teare all forcing knock-ons or turn over ball for Houghton.
The Boars desperate for a try are 5 yards out - shotgun after shotgun after shotgun ball with the Novo's defense not giving an inch (was brutal viewing!!) eventually the Boars make it over the line only to be held up - 5 metre scum - nothing came from it.
about 30 mins in Shepherd making a tackle on the big number 13 out-wide turned his ankle over and didn't look like he could continue, until that is the magic 'hands' of their physio put him right and he struggled on for the remainder of the half.
Novo's attacked through their big centre who drew players in before off loading to their pacey winger on several occasions with only crazy Johnny saving the day for the Boars. Novo's have a scrum 5 metres out, the Boars pack drive them off the ball and the ball is kicked clear, from the resulting lineout the ball is moved into midfield by Novo's, the Boars are offside and they opt to kick for posts - 15 - 0.

HT 15 - 0

The second half started much like the first - the Boars huffing and puffing away to try and blow the Novo's house down but nothing happening - more try saving tackles from crazy 'sign him up now' Johnny to prevent the score getting out of hand, Cummy making some good covering tackles.

On 48 mins Novo's had a penalty 10 metres out, they give it to their strong running prop who evades the tackle attempts and scores - 22 - 0.
Shepherd tries to take the kick off but his ankle isn't any good and he is forced to come off - more changes and more people playing out of position.
Changes to the Novo's front row saw the Boars scrum go backwards for the next 20 mins until the prop tired himself out and had to go back off - he was a unit btw!!
More big hits from Lee B and Connor B in the centres - they have been outstanding all game and very little has come through them, unfortunately Novo's just went around them to score their tries as yet another mazey run from the winger goes on for another try 29 - 0.
The Boars are kicking more and more now as they have the wind and the Novo's defense around the breakdown is too just strong, Michael Carr and Crazy Johnny with several good kicks to setup field position however Novo's are able to work their way out. Mark Whitaker kicks the ball and sets off chasing, the ball bobbles over the try line with the Novo's fullback waching on, Mark closes in only to see at the last minute as he dove for the ball that the fullback had also dove and touched the ball down for a 22 drop-out.
the Novo's wingers are breaking the gain line with every carry with only crazy Johnny to stop them which he does several times and is helped on one occasion by Whitaker.
The last move of the game was a concentrated forward drive from Novo's who picked and drove for about 5,6,7,8,9 phases before finally making it over the Boars try line to end the game with a try - 36 - 0.

FT 36 -0
MOTM - Crazy Johnny
DOTD - no body deserved it so was not even discussed

Houghton Rugby Club

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