After playing top team Skirlaugh last week, today’s game would be just as hard against the mighty West Hull.
The Braves started the game so determined with strong passing moves to put immediate pressure on the visiting side. Beverley was definitely up for the challenge despite having some key players out through illness and holidays.
Keegan Bartlett kicked the ball across the width of the pitch to challenge their defence and the resulting loose ball was dived upon cleanly by Conor Egan under immense pressure. This gave Beverley another set of six but West Hull’s famous defence did not let them down and kept Beverley Braves at bay.
The game was already a joy to watch from the side lines and it was West Hull who found the gap to go over and open the scoring. The Braves carried on straight from the whistle though and this saw some lovely play from Jay Black, who dictates the game from hooker with pin point passes to open up runners who are charging in at speed like Joe Wardill, who had some fantastic runs today gaining good yards up the pitch. Kurt Pelham had his usual outstanding game despite playing in a new position and picking up a nasty knock.
Harry Gray received an excellent pass and accelerated up the wing but with other teams where Beverley can break the line, this was not so with West Hull. Harry Bullyment had definitely upped his game with some crunching tackles and strong runs forward holding the ball tightly to his chest. Harvey Lazenby at second row had a strong game too. Despite all this though West Hull still found the gap in our defensive wall to cross the line and make the half time score 0 – 12.
The second half started as the first had finished with all players working at an outstanding rate. Egan’s tackling low stopped the wingers in their tracks and James McGahey never stopped running and his work rate is outstanding week on week. The Braves are still guilty of putting themselves under pressure by not finishing many sets of six which is paramount against any side let alone West Hull. They paid the ultimate price as well when the away side crossed the line again as tired legs left the smallest of gaps which West Hull never missed.
The Braves still knuckled down though Gray made two outstanding tackles on the trot and Dylan Clifford, annoyed at an earlier play of the ball, went in hard on the advancing West Hull player and knocked him 5 yards back from where he had come from. Danny Dawson went in hard and low in another stunning tackle and a kick up field saw James Sherwin release his amazing speed to chase the ball.
Sherwin’s play improves week in week out and Owen Harrison attack and defence was amazing yet again. Tom Wood and Danny Norman were brought on late in the game but still worked hard for their team mates in the time they had.
All this said West Hull found two more gaps in the wall to end the game 0 – 30. Although West Hull deserved to win the score flattered them and Beverley can hold their head up high as they battled the whole game and every player came off the pitch with tired legs having played their heart out.
Man of the match deservedly to Kurt Pelham for another outstanding performance no matter where he plays, which is such as asset for any team to have.
Bevelrey Braves 0 Wuest Hull 30 | Reported by Sue Wardill
