Beverley 2nds 0 Malton 52
At first viewing the scoreline suggests a totally one sided contest, however for the best part of 50 mins Beverley competed well and played some good rugby, only a lack of composure, a couple of wrong options and several injuries meant that in the end Malton ran out convincing winners after taking their chances with clinical precision.
From the outset Beverley back line took their Malton counterparts on at every opportunity, James Graham and Luca Mander made breaks after some deft passes from fly half Ben Sherwood. It was only Beverleys lack of killer instinct and tenacious tackling by Malton that kept them out.
Malton showed how dangerous they could be with a big pack producing quick ball for their backs who had the edge out wide with a couple of very speedy wingers who would make the Beavers pay later in the game.
It was from a break out of defence that Malton were held up over the line, from the resulting 5 metre scrum their impressive number 8 went over for a converted try.
Play was pretty even up to this point with Graham and Mander looking dangerous for Beverley whilst Malton counter attacked with real pace. One charge to the line by Graham seemed certain to bring the first points only for Beverley to be penalised for running into their own man. Malton went up the other end and duly scored another converted try followed soon after by another break out of defence which the Beverley cover failed to deal with.
Still Beverley came back and a should have finally got on the scoreboard from a Mander surge up the middle, yet a poor pass from the ruck resulted in a knock on and chance missed. Yet another knock on accounted for the next try scoring chance and the beavers turned around 21 nil down at HT.
To their credit Beverly continued to take the game to Malton and 2 minutes into the 2nd half Mander was held up over the line but that was as close as they came to threatening the scoreboard.
From then on injuries to Skipper Charlton, flyhalf Sherwood, centre Mander and Matt Brown meant the Beavers were reduced to 13 men and Malton inflicted further punishment on the depleted Beverley side.
Despite the size of the defeat there were some impressive displays from Ollie Roe and Gav Jenney whose legendary father Gordon stepped up from the Bandits to help the side out and scrum half Andy Ellis who played out of position in the back row due disappointingly to the non appearance of one of the squad.
James Graham and Luca Mander looked like they could form an exciting centre partnership as long as the forwards can provide some decent ball, but the team as a whole will need to up their work rate in defence to give themselves any chance of competing with the opposition for the rest of the season.
New boss Ian Archibald is looking his squad to pull together and bounch back at the weekend