A frustrating day for Beverley RUFC. They badly needed a win here and had ample opportunities to get it but in the end too many chances went begging and they paid the price.
Hartlepool had numerous chances of their own to wrap it up but they too were profligate in their finishing. The difference was that for the whole of the second half West held a one point lead which they successfully hung on to by denying Beverley RUFC enough possession to do much about it.
Once Beverley RUFC had settled they began to dominate. Hartlepool had a speedy backline but it was Beverley RUFC, chiefly through Junior Tupai, who started opening up holes in the opposing defence. Beverley RUFC looked to be getting well on top thanks to another fine forward effort. West Hartlepool would not be West Hartlepool without a big powerful pack but they had their work cut out here to overcome the lighter Beverley RUFC eight who gave it everything.
Fraley Hopa was again a dominating force in the line-outs and won several balls on the Hartlepool throw. Jon Stephenson and Brandon Hannam in the back row both put themselves about to good effect but overall it was another impressive display by all eight forwards.
Ian Archibald, pressed into service at fly half, was narrowly wide with an early penalty attempt before disaster struck in a devastating five minute spell. West scrum half Gareth Foreman raced clear from a scrum on halfway and sent full back Adam Larkin over in the corner for the game’s first try. Then two minutes later Beverley RUFC lost possession when dithering with the ball in a ruck and flanker Dan Boatman crossed for a second West try.
10-0 down was rough justice on Beverley RUFC but they quickly hit back. A lovely half break by Archibald was carried on by Tupai who sent Richard Bussey in for a try which Archibald converted to bring Beverley RUFC back to 10-7. For a quarter of an hour Beverley RUFC were well on top and it was no surprise when they took the lead.
Tupai threaded his way through the home defence with a mazy run for a second try which Archibald converted from in front of the posts. They could easily have added to it. Tupai and Bussey both cut open the home defence with superb runs and both saw their scoring pass dropped by centre Jack Howdell with the line gaping.
They proved to be costly misses. With almost the last action of the first half Beverley RUFC were again caught dithering and Hartlepool broke down the left allowing centre Andrew Cheslin to cross for a third home try. It was the third more or less gifted try and it proved to be the last and ultimately crucial score of the day.
The first half had been an absorbing affair but the second proved to be a dour error-strewn struggle which started with Goran Jelencic still in the sin bin following an earlier touchline fracas with his opposing wing. Beverley RUFC rather lost their momentum after the break and Hartlepool for much of the time seemed largely content merely to deny them possession.
Both sides squandered opportunities to score but Beverley RUFC for long periods struggled to get their hands on the ball. Yet they might still have won it. Jelencic was unlucky not to make it to the corner after a thrilling fifty metre run, Rob Smith hesitated when a pass inside would have brought a certain try, and Archibald was wide with a penalty that fifteen years ago he would have slotted with his eyes shut. Nonetheless it was a highly satisfactory return to the side for the old warrior before he departed late on.
It all ended frustratingly for Beverley RUFC as West ran the clock down with protracted time wasting and ball retention in the forwards. In the end a disappointing result for Beverley RUFC but they did get a bonus point and happily live to fight another day in the battle to avoid relegation.
Final Score: West Hartlepool 15 Beverley RUFC 14 | Reported by John Nursey
