In some slippery conditions at Longcroft, the Braves were up to take on the East Hull visitors. Kurt Pelham took a fine catch to start the game with conviction. East Hull ran strongly and put pressure on the home side’s line. Despite some bruising tackles East Hull broke free and went over for an early lead. Play resumed with the same conviction and Joe Wardill took a sky high kick soundly to run strongly up the field to gain valuable yards. A penalty followed which gave the Braves the break they needed for James McGahey to charge over and score and level the game after Owen Harrison converted.
East Hull then lost a scrum and Beverley pounced on the spilt ball for Dylan Clifford to run down the middle in his usual ‘head down’ style which East Hull could not stop. A good kick from Harvey Lazenby put the visitors firmly back on their own line. East Hull fought back, but the Braves defence was outstanding at times, Zak Mayo and Callum Officer deserving special mention. The ball went loose again in the muddy conditions and Conor Egan dived on the ball to regain possession for the Braves, but a penalty followed against the home side and East Hull capitalised to make the score at the half time score 6-10.
Beverley was still full of passion and determination from re-start. Callam Bielby had his usual hard, mighty game but was kicked in the chest and had to be taken off. The visitors broke free again to score, making Beverley dig deep. An outstanding interception from Pelham, who reads the game so well for such a young head, set up a chance Clifford who ran hard and low up the field but a last gasp tackle over the line forced the slippery ball out of his hands, which was unlucky for the Braves as such a fine move deserved a try. With time on the ball crucial, Jay Black, who plays the ball quickly and accurately and is such an asset to the team, released Lazenby and fast hands enabled Pelham to touch down to bring the game back within the Braves reach at 10-16.
A scrum in the Braves’ half saw East Hull break free and left the defence standing for an easy try against the home side. The Braves did not give up and Harrison touched down for an excellent try which showed what the Braves can do. Sadly East Hull broke free again from the kick off to dampen Beverley’s spirit; the final score was 14-26.
You have to feel for Beverley as even the referee commented that the better side lost. Man of the match could not be split between Clifford and Wardill but some mighty performances had been put in by lots of lads and we just know that their time will come.
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