In a game of two halves the Blue and Golds claimed both points in a bruising encounter at the Roy Waudby Complex last Saturday. The early exchanges were brutal with big hits aplenty.
Finally after a spell of sustained pressure, in which Louis Hubbard seemed to be taking on the whole Cottingham side single handedly, Steve Davidson crashed over wide out to give the visitors the lead. Louis Hubbard went over for a deserved try minutes later to increase Beverley’s advantage. Half backs Steve Conley and Steve Jonson were running the show at this stage and it was Jonson’s astute long pass that sent Rob Thompson over for a well taken try wide out. The touchline conversion was stroked over by Jonson and at 16-0 it was Beverley’s game to lose at the break.
The game was almost put beyond doubt early in the second half when Liam Lane broke through and his inside pass to a supporting player went to ground. That proved to be one of the visitors few attacks of the half as the game turned on its head. The fight back began with an interception try for the home side. They enjoyed far greater possession and territory aided by a stream of penalties awarded in their favour. They chipped away at Beverley’s lead to reduce it to 16-14 with two further tries.
Passions ran high in the closing minutes and it took some desperate last ditch defence to keep the home side out. Lee Stevens, Joe Wileman and Aaron Horsfield were a tower of strength for the visitors at this stage with their work rate in defence and their settling runs when they were required. They just hung on to claim the East Riding derby spoils.
Louis Hubbard took the Man of the Match award. His efforts were outstanding for the hour he was on the pitch and he was sorely missed when he had to leave through injury.
Cottingham Tigers 14 Beverley ARLC 16
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