Don’t be fooled by this score line as the young Beverley Braves gave the much bigger Bulls a real scare before a 10-minute spell immediately after the break when Beverley never touched the ball finally broke them.
This was not before a huge effort in defence from 1-17, having played the last 15 minutes with no subs due to injuries and ended with two brave boys visiting the hospital.
Despite this the Braves were remarkably the better side with the ball regardless of not getting over the line themselves, the probing of halves Cain Robb and Charlie Gay causing problems all game.
It was the worst start possible when influential captain Josh Hamlyn received a dead leg in the very first tackle of the game and bravely battled on and matched the Bulls pack with one leg.
He wasn’t on his own in the engine room as props Joel McKenna and Ellis Gaden and second rows Isaac Merryweather and Jack Dixon all playing well only being bettered by replacement prop Alex Nuttall, who came off the bench and had a fine game.
Gabriel Dex was everywhere, whilst all were ably directed round the paddock by hooker Shamus Blades and Rhys Wallen also played his part.
The Braves looked impressive in attack forcing three goal-line drop outs through a good kicking game and eager chasing but unfortunately couldn’t turn that pressure into points, and the Skirlaugh defence must be complimented for this as they put it many big hits in an aggressive performance.
Not deterred in any way the Braves kept trying hard with substitute Matthew Shirley, just back off holiday, particularly impressive in the tough period of the second half.
In the back’s fullback, Tom Nuttall was back to his best, making yards for fun until sadly he had to leave the arena through injury whilst centres Chris Martin and Owen Miller revelled in the space the halves found them and are fast becoming among the best in the division, wingers Bryan Usher and Matthew Cook defended stoutly in the face of much traffic.
Usher, in particular, doing a fine job returning the ball out of his own end to put himself in contention for the man of the match award which on this occasion was shared between Josh Hamlyn, who played busted and stand-off Charlie Gay, who continued his impressive form with a decent all round display.
The Braves shouldn’t lose confidence in defeat to the much fancied Bulls that seem to attract the biggest and best in the city.
Their coaches do believe that if they stick together and work hard, then It’s just a matter of time before these results turn around, and the gap becomes smaller, and they certainly wouldn’t swap their boys for anyone else.
