The blue and golds, Beverley ARLC, made the short trip along the M62 to Pontefract for this pre-season friendly. They travelled with a squad of 23 including 7 players from the under 17’s side in a game that allowed unlimited substitutions.
The physically bigger West Yorkshire outfit dominated the opening half an hour racing to a 22-0 lead before the visitors started to enjoy greater possession and territory and were aided by being awarded a string of penalties in their favour as the hosts were guilty of continually tackling high.
Hardworking hooker Liam Smith burrowed his way over from dummy half to reduce the arrears. The hosts added a further score just before the whistle to go in to the interval 26-4 up.
The visitors applied themselves far better in the opening exchanges of the second half. Half backs Steve Conley and Liam Lane began to cause problems for the hosts. It was Steve Conley’s inventive chip ahead which saw him reclaim the ball to score wide out.
Minutes later Beverley’s try of the match featured a beautiful short pass from Steve Conley which sent youngster Sam Norton racing 50 metres to score. The conversion was added and the visitors were closing in at 26-14.
However the visitors spilled possession early in the tackle count deep in their own half which saw the hosts score off the resultant set of six.
Having regained the initiative the hosts added a further 10 points to seal the game as a contest. In the closing stages Steve Conley added his second try selling a dummy and darting over from close range.
The game proved to be a very worthwhile workout with the young mixing with the more experienced players. The pick of the youngsters being Liam Smith who was jointly awarded the man of the match award alongside Steve Conley for his nonstop work.
This will be the only pre season friendly ahead of the start of the Hull & District League season on Saturday 3rd September. The fixture list has still to be released.
Chequefield Rangers 42 Beverley 18
