This was a pleasing afternoons work for the blue and golds. They completely dominated the second half to rattle up a half-century of points against a side that was third in the table prior to kick off.
It was an indication of what Pat Howdle’s side are capable of when they can put out a reasonably strong side. Howdle commented;
“I could not pick a man of the match today everybody just seemed to click into gear.”
Beverley started confidently, and some early pressure forced a line drop-out. The resulting set saw the ball moved swiftly to the left to send Jake Hart-Fisher over in the corner for an unconverted try after ten minutes. The home side then enjoyed some good field position, and Beverley did well to keep their opponents scoreless at this stage.
Having withstood the pressure, they worked their way up-field to stretch their lead midway through the half. After a good, attacking set Lewis Poskitt’s bomb was fumbled. New signing Alex Starling (formerly Beverley Brave and Hull FC academy) pounced to score. Poskitt adding the extras.
Very shortly after the lead nearly increased when a stunning break down, the left flank by Jake Hart-Fisher saw him get an inside pass to send Owen Riley over. However, Hart-Fisher was ruled to have just put a foot in touch.
Around the half hour mark the home side managed to get some repeat sets and exert some pressure. It payed dividends for them with a converted try to reduce Beverley’s lead. With the break fast approaching Beverley stretched their lead. Utilising the wide 3G pitch, the ball was shipped swiftly to the right where Sam Roe gave the final pass which allowed Tom Shires to step inside and score. The extras could not be added but the visitors where good value for a 14-6 interval lead.
The second half saw the Beverley revel in the very warm conditions and play some of their most expansive rugby of the season so far. The avalanche of points began two minutes into the half. Jack Howdle’s break down the right flank set up the position for the ball to be shipped right across to the other flank.
Jake Hart-Fisher inside pass then sent Will Mail over. Howdle continued to cause the opposition problems and his break down the right then saw him get an inside pass away to send Sam Coleman away. Coleman did well to hold off the chasing cover and score under the posts. Poskitt converting.
Beverley’s fitness began to show through and in the next set after the re-start, Jack Humphries broke from deep in his own half to score beneath the posts. Three minutes later, Chris Johnson added another score from acting half back. There was some brief respite for home side before Howdle and Josh Pooley combined to send Lee Falcus over, who supported well from full back. Five minutes later, Jack Howdle rounded off a man of the match performance by coming onto a ball at great speed to crash over under the posts.
Beverley’s final act of scoring was in the 75th minute when another Josh Pooley break set up the position for yet more expansive play to the left to send Will Mail over for his second try. As the full time whistle approached the home side added a consolation try.
The other results did not go Beverley’s way and they remain ninth in the table. They are, however, at home to third placed Birstall Victoria this Saturday kicking off at 2.30pm at the Beverley Leisure Centre.
This will be an opportunity to avenge their opening-day defeat 32-16 defeat to the West Riding outfit.
Final Score: Milford Marlins ‘A’ 12 Beverley 52 | Reported by Nick Robinson
