This visit to Fenners was test of character for the blue and golds last Saturday. Much of it was played in appalling conditions of torrential rain with hail mixed in, combined with a howling icy gale. A hat-trick and man of the match performance from Ben Calvert proved to be the highlight of the afternoon.
The visitors were on the scoreboard early courtesy of a long-range effort from Daryl Gregory. Gregory, who seems to be settling down nicely into the wing role, evaded several defenders on a mazy run from 70 meters out to score. Watkin added the extras. The lead was short-lived as the hosts replied with a similar long range effort which was converted to level the scores.
The scores remained level as both sides appeared to have the measure of each other until midway through the half. Ben Calvert spotted the gap on the blind side to go over in the corner. The visitors began to gain in confidence and throw the ball around more. One such attacking movement saw
Ryan Watkin break away to get a pass away to Steve Davidson, who in turn passed to Gavin Proctor who was held up over the line beneath the posts.
A quick play the ball then saw quick hands to the right send Ben Calvert over again wide out.
The spirited home side did then pull back a try five minutes from the break, but it was soon canceled out. They threw a silly pass out in their own half, which saw Ryan Watkin pounce and sprint away to score in the corner. He then added the difficult touchline conversion to send the visitors 20-10 up at half time.
The heavens opened early in the second half, and the heavy rain did not relent until the final 15 minutes of the match. The visitors handled possession far the better of the two sides during this period. Simple taking of the ball up and not trying to offload was the name of the game.
Forwards Neil Mail, Lee Stevens and Louis Hubbard all impressed in this area.
Beverley managed to increase their lead with a Paul Atkinson try 5 minutes into the half and began to take control of the match. Stand off off Ian Lane began to run the show. Defensively they were solid and the home side never really looked like scoring in the second half.
As brighter skies came Ben Calvert completed his hat-trick evading a number of defenders on a 40 meter dash for the line in the 70th minute. With the league points in the bag Beverley opened up in attack and were hungry for more points. A crisp handling movement put Steve Connolly in the clear but he was pulled back for a forward pass.
The whistle sounded for a pleasing away win and it was the signal for players and spectators to dash for the warmth.
Beverley’s Lee Stevens said after the game;
“I have never played in bad conditions like that before, we were lucky not to have been taken off the pitch.”
This Saturday Beverley are at home to Bilton Sully’s kicking off at 2pm at the Leisure Centre. The blue and golds will be looking to avenge
a narrow defeat by Bilton only three weeks previous.
Final Score: Fenners 10 Beverley ARLC 28 | Reported By Nick Robinson
