Beverley Braves under 12s fielded just thirteen players in their clash with the top team at this age level for several seasons East Hull and put in a courageous performance.
With a large contingent of the squad unavailable due to illness our other commitments this was the chance for some of the fringe squad players to get a full game, something some of them have never done and they did the club proud.
Playing with a strong wind behind them in the first half the Braves defence was resolute with Ethan Rowbotham topping the tackle count, but ably supported by stand-in prop Thomas Cohen, who improves with every game and Matthew Hutchinson who also enjoyed the greater involvement in the game.
Frustratingly Easts only scored in the first half after Braves errors, giving them good field position, scoring under the posts to go 6 nil up and then on the right to make it 10-0.
East Hull did not have it all their own way in the first half with a good kicking game from Marcus Walker using the wind to gain good attacking positions. From this both William Wallis and Rowbotham were held up over the line.
The Braves had a lot to do in defence and limited time with the ball in hand and with no fresh legs to bring on they did find it tough taking the ball up, however Joseph Dennis did well when he took some of the workload off his props, gaining valuable yards.
Lack of possession meant scrum half Lewis Egan and hooker Jack Turner had limited opportunities with the ball but they more than made up for this with a brave tackling display against some much bigger lads than them.
The coaches called for a continuation of the great team effort at half- time with the score 14-0, the third East’s try coming off the back of a dubious looking penalty.
A team effort is exactly what they got despite the Braves being starved of possession – they had just four sets in the second half, only one of which was in the Easts half after Wallis regained possession from a Walker kick off. So it had to be all about defence with Harry Newton and Oliver Gresswell both having their best defensive effort for some time and Ryan Deane working tirelessly in the tackles as well as finding the energy to work a few moves with his half- backs.
Dylan English defused a great kick from Easts in the second half calmly taking the ball despite being under pressure and William Kirkup saved several tries with some last ditch defence and was unlucky not to prevent an Easts try as he turned the player on his back in the tackle.
This was enough to earn him the man of the match award, but al the lads should be proud of the great team effort they put in. East Hull scored three tries in the second half, the same tally as the first, despite the massive advantage of the wind and the Braves being down to 12 men after an injury for some of that time.
Final Score: Beverley Braves 0 East Hull 28
