Beverley Braves under 13s only had 14 players available as summer holidays and injuries took their toll on the side for their trip to the Skirlaugh Bulls.
Beverley knew they would be up against it playing a Bulls side that had scored 152 points and conceded just one try in their last four games. However, they put in a fantastic team effort and deserved a little more than a 10-34 defeat.
Defence, and the performance of the pack, was always going to be key and every one of the Braves starting six put in a huge tackling stint, led by Olly Loney, who topped the Braves tackle count, ably assisted by Jack Turner and George Bennett-Teare, who had his best game for some time.
Skirlaugh started strongly and after defending several sets in their own half the pressure was bound to tell on Beverley and Skirlaugh scored on the right to make it 0-4 after six minutes. Four minutes later and Skirlaugh had 10 after scoring a converted try in the same position.
Credit must go to the Braves as they did not let their heads go down and with good go forward from Dan Tree and Henry Hughes, they found themselves in a great position. Kai Johnson drove forward strongly from a tap penalty only to be held up and pushed back from over the line and from the Braves going very close at one end of the field Skirlaugh broke to score at the other end and make it 0-16.
Skirlaugh made several breaks during the half but brave defence from full back Ben Hodder and wing Will Kirkup ensured there was no further score until the very last second of the half – a cruel blow as there was far from 22 points between the two sides.
In the second half the Beverley Braves gave themselves the target of winning the half, and they came out strong piling the pressure on the Bulls line but the Skirlaugh defence showed why they have conceded so little in the past few weeks by holding out and once again breaking down field to score to make it 0-28.
All through the game scrum half Lewis Egan and Stand Off Marcus Walker had tried to find a way to open up this tight defence and with the forwards making good progress up field, they could find a bit more time on the ball. Walker put up a high kick which the Skirlaugh winger fumbled and Adam Ramsden followed up to pounce on the loose ball to score and cap a fine running and defensive performance. Walker’s conversion made it 6-28.
With several player’s unavailable Mr versatilities, Tom Cohen played well in the centre, and Nathan Dixon spent most of the game on the wing, although he had an effective spell at hooker, a position he is more suited to, late in the game.
Meanwhile Ewan Morton, a try scorer the last time the two teams met, filled in well at both fullback and later wing, three lads that typified the team spirit Beverley had and the willingness to muck in wherever they were asked to.
Once again, Skirlaugh scored a breakaway try to make it 6-34 but back came the Braves, Walker’s huge kick off bounced into touch in goal, and from the resulting drop out Egan worked the ball to Tree who ran a great angle to score on the left to make it 10-34.
There was still time for further drama a great cover tackle from Hodder put the Bulls attacker in to touch. Choosing a man of the match was difficult, and it was shared between Bennett-Teare, Tree and Kirkup.
Final Score: Skirlaugh Bulls 34 Beverley Braves 10
