This was a poor match. Very scrappy with Beverley RUFC looking strangely under par, particularly following their excellent showing last week in the defeat of Bradford Salem.
Their passing was way below their normal standard and the intended receiver was invariably scrabbling about at their boots or stretching way above their heads.
Things certainly improved in the passing department as the game wore on and the Beavers scraped home in the end by 20 points to 19.
In truth Beverley ought to have won by a far bigger margin given the amount of possession that they enjoyed and it has to be said that what little enterprising rugby was on show came from them.
Beverley spent the first 15 minutes camped in the Hullensians 22 during which time they had what looked like a good try from Jockey Holmes disallowed but they were finally rewarded when Isaac Keighley was driven over under the posts for a try which Phil Duboulay converted to give them a 7-0 lead.
This was to be short lived however and with their first foray into Beverley’s half, left winger Josh Langford scored an excellent try for Hullensians which Guy Martinson converted to equalise the score at 7-7.
Five minutes later Phil Duboulay kicked a penalty for Beverley to make it 10-7 but Hullensians hit back with another try following some good work by Josh Langford. The ball found its way to Hullensians’ excitable No8 who romped over, Chris Ashton style, celebrating wildly en- route. Martinson again converted and, ashtonishingly, Hullensians were ahead by 14 points to 10 at half-time.
The second half was marginally less scrappy than the first and after 5 minutes Rob Smith went over for a smart try, too far out for the conversion (15-14).
The Hullensian winger Josh Langford was proving to be a real handful and practically every time they threatened it was as a result of his tricky running. Eventually Isaac Noman scored a try for Hullensians which was unconverted (15-19) but the Beavers hit back with another try for Rob Smith following a fine floated pass from Junior Tupai to seal the win by 20 to 19.
In the dying minutes Hullenians were awarded a very kickable penalty but strangely the elected to decline the kick and head for the corner. The sighs of relief coming from the Beavers supports must have been heard in Saturday Market.
What was encouraging for Beverley was the resilience and grit they showed even when things were not coming off for them and, if nothing else, they deserved their win because of that.
Final Score : Beverley RUFC 20 Hullensian 19
