Early autumn sunshine, a lush playing field, and the start of a new season. All that was needed was a good game and these two sides gave us one. Beverley probably deserved the victory by virtue of a good second half and having the sharper finishing. But there was plenty of enterprise throughout by both teams and it was not until ten minutes from the end that an interception try finally ensured a home victory.
Beverley started the stronger and should have made better use of plenty of early possession. Two penalty attempts went begging and Waterloo gradually got more into the game. From a fine break in midfield wing forward Carl Nolan burst clear up the middle and only a brave head on tackle from Phil Dale prevented him giving Waterloo the lead.
After twenty three minutes Phil Duboulay with a penalty from the ten metre line eventually broke the deadlock when Waterloo were penalised for not rolling away in a ruck. The lead was short-lived, Waterloo quickly responding with one from full back James O’Brien after Beverley were caught offside but a second Duboulay penalty almost direct from the restart promptly put Beverley back in front. Somewhat surprisingly halftime arrived with the score at only 6-3, the three penalties being all there was to show for what had been an open and expansive first period.
The young Waterloo backs despite having less possession showed plenty of pace but were unable to break down a determined home defence with Dale and Goran Jelencic in particular putting in some crunching tackles. There was not much to choose between the two packs, who toiled bravely in the wearing heat all afternoon, but it was Beverley who began to get the upper hand in the second half, putting together some thrilling moves in the process.
They came near to scoring several times before eventually getting over just as the game was going into its last quarter. A crisp attack down the right set up the ball for Dale who made remarkable ground towards the posts considering the numerous would-be tacklers hanging onto him. When the ball came back Duboulay sent a delightful chip over the defence for Sam Atiola to burst through and touch down. It was as well executed a try as any we are likely to see all season.
Beverley were now two scores clear and certainly having the better of the play but somehow you felt that Waterloo could never quite be written off. A try ten minutes from time did finally seal it for Beverley when Chris Infield intercepted a loose pass inside the Waterloo 22 and raced over under the posts leaving Duboulay with a simple conversion to put Beverley 18-3 ahead. Waterloo ended strongly scoring a late consolation try from wing forward Dan Palmer after a powerful forward drive to the line, and a last minute penalty from O’Brien to add to his earlier one and his frequent fortissimo colourful language.
For Beverley it was a totally satisfying day. They were up against a side with a long distinguished history and one they had never met before. It was a fine all round team performance with no apparent weak areas, despite two of their key backs being absent. Their back row of David Worrall, Tony Riby-French and James McKay was particularly impressive and young Glen Walden made an encouraging debut on the wing with some determined running and tackling.
The enjoyment of the afternoon was due in no small measure to referee Mr. Dean Lythgoe who handled the game splendidly and never had cause throughout the entire match to penalise anybody for foul play.
Final Score Beverley RUFC 18 Waterloo 11
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