Beverley RUFC’s league season ended in disappointment when results elsewhere on the final day denied them the last place of safety they had come so close to attaining. After a devastating first half of the season when they were decimated by injuries Beverley RUFC had fought superbly in the second to make up the lost ground. To take 33 points from their last eleven games was no mean achievement and to find themselves with 52 points and still relegated can be regarded as distinctly unlucky. Just two more points and they would have reached safety.
They set out here knowing that a win was crucial and it would almost certainly need to contain a four-try bonus point. Burnage proved to be anything but a pushover. They defended superbly and for long periods denied Beverley RUFC the possession they needed to get their four tries. Burnage in fact had most of the early play but once they had got into their stride the Beverley RUFC pack began to dominate the forward exchanges and Beverley RUFC duly took the lead after ten minutes. A break in midfield was carried on by Brandon Hannam who surged into the 22 before releasing Richard Bussey to touch down close to the posts. Junior Tupai converted and Beverley RUFC were on their way.
Burnage possessed a lively backline in which left winger Knight was a particular danger but Beverley RUFC with ball in hand generally posed the greater threat. Tom Bagnall made a fine break and Fraley Hopa also got clean away only to be brought back for a crossing offence. Eventually Beverley RUFC did increase their lead with a second try set up by fly half Tom Steadman who cut through and put Chris Infield over.
Turning round 12-0 up at halftime Beverley RUFC could feel satisfied with the position. The first half had been a fairly even and enjoyable contest but for most of the spectators the burning objective was to see Beverley RUFC get the four tries they desperately needed. Ten minutes into the second period Beverley RUFC looked to have got a third when they charged down a Burnage clearance near the visitors’ line but the ball slipped from Ben Johnson’s grasp as he went for the touchdown.
Play became increasingly concentrated in the Burnage half as Beverley RUFC went for the kill. But the onset of rain on an already soaked pitch made handling difficult and Beverley RUFC found it increasingly hard to break down the visitors’ defence. They also somewhat lost their edge when Hopa, along with Burnage hooker Hammonds, was dismissed for fighting. Nonetheless with ten minutes remaining Bagnall powered his way over for a third try and Beverley RUFC went all out for a fourth.
They had plenty of possession in the dying minutes and might have got it but the early control was not quite there. Twice Bussey might have got in at the corner and several times the ball was kicked when it should have been passed or was simply not released to players in better positions. Burnage themselves hardly ever looked like scoring in the second half but they somehow managed to hang on and deny Beverley RUFC a fourth try.
In the end 19-0 was a good win and as it turned out the elusive fourth try would have been of no consequence given the Waterloo and Penrith results. Ultimately nothing Beverley RUFC did today would have affected the final league positions. It was a desperately disappointing anti-climax after such a fine effort in recent weeks to climb to safety. Nonetheless there has been much to enjoy this season and Beverley RUFC can be proud of their endeavour. No praise can be too high for coach Anthony Posa and his coaching staff who have instilled a camaraderie and team spirit which would be the envy of many other clubs. Beverley RUFC certainly look too good a side to be going down and a swift return back to National League Three must surely be on the cards for next season.
Final Score: Beverley RUFC 19 Burnage 0 | Reported by John Nursey
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