The blue and golds saw their first action in a month due to recent postponements in the first round of the Council Cup last Saturday at Lambwath.
Without the pressure of league points coach Guy Adams saw the game as an opportunity for the team to go out and enjoy themselves.
In the end he got a gutsy performance in which his side came up just short. Gavin Proctor and Steve Davidson were unavailable due to work commitments which forced a reshuffle.
Steve Connolly was drafted into the hooking role and the improving Mark Nicholson was drafted into the second row.
The home side were on the scoreboard with a try in the 2nd minute. However the visitors replied shortly after courtesy of the industrious Mike Cooper sending centre Ben Calvert sprinting away to the corner. The hosts regained the lead almost instantly with a converted try. Beverley were guilty at this stage of allowing the opposition too much easy yardage.
Midway through the half Beverley got on level terms again when Mike Cooper’s clever inside pass sent Gareth Lane crashing over beneath the posts for Watkin to convert.
Just before the break a moment of inspiration saw Ryan Watkin slip the ball to Steve Connolly who broke clear with options to the left and right of him. He opted to send Paul Atkinson over in the corner to send Beverley 16-12 up into the interval.
The first 20 minutes of the second half saw both sides go toe to toe with defences on top.
The home side scored 2 vital quick tries midway through the half to lead 22-16. But Beverley ARLC were in no mood to throw in the towel. During one of their raids on the Lambwath line, Gavin Platt went agonizingly close to scoring when he broke through only to be pulled short.
When stretching out to score he was little more than inches from scoring. Lambwath managed to absorb the pressure and score what proved to be the gamebreaking try in the 75th minute.
However Beverley were not done yet and after the ball was shipped through several hand in desperation,Ryan Watkin went over besides the posts. Watkin converted his own try but there was only a minute to go and not enough time for late drama.
Steve Connolly took the committee man of the match award with Ryan Watkin in second place. This Saturday Beverley are at home to Haworth Park Rangers kicking off 2pm at the Leisure Centre.
Matters are now turning to the importance of junior development which is vital if the club wish to play at a higher level. The junior Rugby League season will start shortly in March. The Beverley Braves will be entering teams at all ages between the under 8’s and under 15’s in the Hull & District League.
Matches take place at both the Leisure Centre and Longcroft School. New players are encouraged to give it a go. There are opportunities to play at half time at the KC Stadium for the under 8’s and also open age curtain raisers.
There are also opportunities at the older age groups to go onto scholarships at Hull FC and Hull KR. All coaching staff are RFL qualified and CRB checked.
Please enquire to Stu on 07969725686 or come down to Saturday morning training sessions at 10am at Longcroft School and ask to speak to a member of the coaching staff.
Final Score : Lambwath Lions 26 Beverley 22 | Reported by Nick Robinson
