A useful two league points for Beverley RUFC but it could have been better. They had by far the greater share of the game and played the slicker rugby. Had they not squandered several good scoring opportunities they would probably have won this comfortably. However given that Burnage have a narrow pitch with an artificial surface on which visiting sides hardly ever win a draw here was not a bad result.
Beverley got off to a cracking start. The game was less than three minutes old when the pack drove thirty metres upfield to within fifteen metres of the line, won a scrum against the head and moved the ball blind to Rob Smith who sprinted over for a try under the posts. Phil Duboulay slotted the conversion. A spell of sustained pressure should have brought them further scores but three penalty line-outs near the home line were lost through poor throwing-in and Dubulay was wide with a kickable penalty.
The forwards were again in outstanding form and regularly outmuscled their bulky opponents. But while the scrum was excellent the line-outs were not. In the end the failure to win might easily be attributed to sloppy line-out work. All too often in good attacking positions the throw was misdirected or went clean over the top. Quite why Beverley persisted with throwing long near the opposition line is a mystery especially when a short throw and drive to the line has proved so fruitful this season.
As the half progressed Burnage steadily got more into the game although Beverley continued to pose the greater theat. Fly half Ross Whinney kicked a penalty for a late tackle and then added a second on the stroke of halftime when the Beverley front row were penalised. Beverley should have been well ahead at halftime but they turned round only a single point up at 7-6.
Within a minute of the restart Burnage were penalised for diving into a ruck and Duboulay slotted the penalty from the ten metre line. At 10-6 Beverley went in search of a further score to put them two scores clear. There was some thrilling running, especially from full back Mark Steadman, Richard Bussey, and James Holland who was desperately unlucky not to score just before halftime. Beverley’s back three were sound under the high ball and all afternoon looked dangerous when in possession. When the ball did find its target in the line-outs Aaron Carroll, Paul Steadman and Stuart Nel all impressed. Tom Steadman had one of his best games so far at scrum-half.
The Beverley backs saw plenty of the ball but defending by both sides was robust and most attacks were quickly closed out. After ten minutes a rare lapse in the Beverley defence let in home centre Stuart Oldham for a try which Whinney converted. 13-10 and Beverley were behind for the first time. They still looked the more likely winners but they were starting to struggle up front against their meatier opponents. The loss of Alex Ogilvie in the front row was a particular blow. After he went off Beverley’s forward effectiveness was never quite the same again.
Still the opportunities came and went. Duboulay levelled the scores with a second penalty but another try continued to elude them. One attack in the home corner looked certain to bring a score but Beverley lost possession, Burnage drove upfield, won a penalty, and Whinney slotted the kick to put them back in front. Five minutes from time it was all level again thanks to a third Duboulay penalty and Beverley went flat out for a winning try. Several times they nearly broke through but the crucial score never quite came.
The final whistle will have brought greater relief to Burnage than it did to Beverley but in the end both clubs were probably happy to settle for a draw. It was a fast and enjoyable game but nonetheless slightly frustrating for Beverley who will know they ought to have won it.
Final Score: Burnage 16 Beverley RUFC 16 | Reported by John Nursey
Photo by Neil Mckenzie – Meza9
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