A rip-roaring game full of non stop rugby from both sides. Quite how Beverley RUFC ended up losing it after almost totally dominating it was a mystery. Even more baffling was how they failed to score a single try despite creating clear cut chances all afternoon.
The midfield trio of Phil Duboulay, Junior Tupai and Sam Atiola were simply outstanding and this was probably the best the pack has played all season. Beverley RUFC might have lost the game but there were times when they played some terrific rugby. If they can keep this up they will surely soon start to climb the table to safety.
Beverley RUFC started brightly and nearly took the lead in the opening minutes when Tupai cut through only to be penalised ten metres out for crossing. Instead of being ahead they immediately found themselves behind. From the resulting penalty and with nearly their first touch of the ball West swept upfield for lock forward Gareth Eddy to round off some slick passing and touch down. Fly half Gareth Foreman added the conversion for what turned out to be game’s only try.
Beverley RUFC remained upbeat and apart from a spell late in the first half gained increasing dominance the longer the game went on. West are always a tough proposition up front but today the Beverley RUFC pack more than held their own and for most of the game comfortably controlled the forward exchanges.
The lineout was going as well as at any time this season and there was a gritty determination and vigour in the forwards that we have not seen since before the injury jinx struck. Duboulay kicked a penalty to reduce the deficit and after half an hour added another to bring Beverley RUFC to within a point at 7-6.
Beverley RUFC lost flanker Tony Riby-French after a blow to the head only to be replaced by Martin Shaw who again played outstandingly. Props Mark Hatfield and Tom Bagnall were putting themselves about to good effect and Max Alderson and Manu Kirkwood in the second row frequently made good ground.
It seemed only a matter of time before Beverley RUFC would take the lead. But the West defending was outstanding and somehow the continuous onslaught, particularly from Tupai and Atiola in the centre, was kept at bay.
On the stroke of halftime Atiola made a lovely break to create an overlap down the left which should have brought a score but Rob Smith was unable to hang on to the pass. Within minutes of the start of the second half Tupai cut through and a try again looked certain but Beverley RUFC were penalised for holding on in the tackle. So near and yet so far, and so it went on.
Eventually Beverley RUFC did edge 9-7 ahead through a third Duboulay penalty. They were completely on top at that stage and another score then would probably have killed West off. Mike Bradshaw and Richard Bussey came off the bench giving added impetus, although Bussey playing his first game since returning did not look entirely match fit. Still the chances came and went for Beverley RUFC and then in the last ten minutes it all went horribly wrong.
On a rare foray into Beverley RUFC territory West were awarded a penalty thirty metres out and Foreman slotted the kick to put them back into the lead. It seemed unbelievable that Beverley RUFC after all their dominance could be behind but worse was to follow. With five minutes left David Worrall after another inspired afternoon was shown a red card for retaliating.
It was a tragedy for Beverley RUFC, not least because it looked from the touchline that the recipient of the retaliation had had it coming to him. Beverley RUFC got bogged down in their own 22 as West closed the game out in the final minutes. Another Foreman penalty with the last action of the day confirmed a victory for West that for most of the afternoon had looked distinctly unlikely. Tough on Beverley RUFC but c’est la vie.
Final Score Beverley RUFC 9 West Hartlepool 13 | Reported by John Nursey
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