Beverley 2nd team’s six match winning streak came to an end by the narrowest of margins on Saturday as they lost 14-13 to Driffield 2nd team in an enthralling game of rugby.
Having arrived expecting to take on Merit League rivals Driffield 3rds, Beverley were informed they were now due to take on their host’s 2nd team in a friendly match, Driffield 3rds having agreed to forfeit the Merit Table points available. Despite the last minute change of opponents this turned out to be one of the more enjoyable games the Beavers have played this season against a side that would not be brushed aside like some recent opposition.
Both sides tried to keep the ball alive and moved it around at will in a fast opening 15 minutes which saw most of the game played in the middle third of the pitch. Beverley did register the first score after several phases of play saw Rob Vaux charging for the line wide out but with defenders in his way he slipped out a pass for Adam Mclatchie to dive over in the corner for an unconverted try.
Driffield showed they were up for this and came back strongly, but Beverley’s defence held out and it was only when they went down to 14 men with the sin binning of full back Jamie Gill that Driffield made their numerical advantage tell. Some poor kicking did not help Beverley as they continually kicked to Driffield’s stocky elusive winger who made ground every time he received the ball. Beverley seemed to have halted Driffield’s progress, but a neat inside pass put their centre away for a converted try. Soon after another converted try, following a lineout and some poor tackling close to Beverley’s line, made the score 14-5 to the hosts and Beverley were facing a test of their character.
The second half followed much of the same pattern as the first, both sides moving the ball about but defences generally on top. Beverley’s new Kiwi signing Huia Whatiti was having an impressive debut alongside Captain Vaux and prop Mark Hatfield who showed up well having come down from the first team squad. Beverley got some more points on the board with a simple penalty in front of the posts from Gill and could scent victory. More Beverley pressure resulted in another penalty but this time the kick was missed as time began to run out.
After a Driffield scrum had been reset several times in their own twenty two, scrum half Archibald picked their number eight’s pocket and was held up just short of the line, but the ball was moved wide to substitute Tim Hullock to crash over 15 metres in from the touchline. Unfortunately the conversion was missed and with the referee signalling one minute remaining Driffield restarted the game. From deep in their own half Beverley launched one last attack which set Hullock free down the left wing with only the imposing number eight standing in his way. With support a little way back a chip ahead was blocked and the resulting ruck saw the ball taken into touch and the final whistle blown.
