Beverley Braves U12s needed to bring their ‘A’ game to their final league game of the season at home to East Hull but started slowly, something they could not afford to do against the team that has dropped the least points in the league this season.
Two knock ons in their own half and tackled behind their own try line in the first three sets in possession. The ball was gifted to Easts and they did not need any further invitation scoring three tries, two converted and two of them when running the ball on the last tackle. At this point, it was looking like a damage limitation exercise for the Braves, but they finally slipped into the form that has brought better results over recent weeks.
The defence began to muscle up with Ethan Rowbotham as ever leading the forward charge, but he was pipped for once in the tackle count by George Bennett-Teare, who had his best defensive game of the season.
Between them, and ably assisted by halves Lewis Egan and Marcus Walker, second row William Wallis and centre Archie, the Beverley defence was now much tighter. With better field position, the Easts scoring machine was slowed down until the stroke of half-time when East Hull scored direct from a scrum 10 metres inside their own half. This was a blow to the Braves, who had only had the ball for five sets in the first half.
A few changes were made at half-time, and the Braves kept East Hull at bay well into the second half. The new-found vigour in defence was typified by full-back Ben Hodder, who made several telling one on one tackles, preventing certain scores to add to the tackle he made in the first half to force Easts in to touch on the right-hand side.
Inspired by this, there was also a great last-ditch effort by George Lees to prevent a certain try and a brilliant chase of a kick on the first from Walker by William Kirkup. This enterprising play was thwarted by a cruel bounce and a harsh penalty when the Easts player was adjudged to have been tackled off the floor. From that penalty East Hull finally got on the score sheet in the second half to make it 0-28.
Beverley missed the go forward and lead by example of Oliver Loney for the majority of the game after he had to retire injury, but there were other stand out performers, especially in the second half.
Tom Cohen made an excellent break from a 20 metre tap to get the Braves moving forward, Jack Turner tried a cheeky chip over the top as the Braves began to have more of the possession and Tom Newton enhanced his ever growing reputation with a excellent take of a high ball.
Seeing more ball meant Easts started to get frustrated and began to give a string of penalties away. Despite Beverley getting back in the game Easts did manage to pop over a drop goal to make it 0-29.
As time moved on different combinations were tried with Oliver Gresswell putting in some good tackles and drives, Ewan Morton having a spell in the pack and Matty Brown putting in a brilliant stint driving the ball up well and causing East Hull problems alongside fellow prop Bennett-Teare. Ryan Deane had a spell at hooker towards the end of the game and looked comfortable and Harry Newton made his first appearance for some time on the right wing.
As time ticked on it looked like Beverley would be nilled by East Hull for the second time this season but up popped Archie Murdoch to crash over in the right-hand corner for a consolation try for the Braves. 4-29 was the final score, but the Beverley lads can be proud of their performance in the second half conceding just one try and scoring one of their own when the could easily have let their heads go down.
Man of the match was Hodder, although he was pushed all the way by several of his team-mates.
Final Score : Beverley Braves 4 East Hull 29
