The blue and golds chalked up two more league points as they dispatched a depleted but very spirited Sharlston outfit.
The men from the former West Riding mining village have a long tradition in the game but are in something of a rebuilding phase. Sharlston were among the title favourites in 2016.
Sharlston came with a bare 13 men who never stopped battling for the full 80 minutes and made the home side work very hard for their points.
Director of Rugby Pat Howdle commented;
“It was hard work at times, but we did what we needed to do. We are at home again next week and need to back this up with another win to keep in contention with the leaders.”
This latest victory for Beverley has seen them move into third place in the Premier Division having overtaken East Hull who have a game in hand. It was a good weekend for the frontrunners with leaders Batley Boys coming away from Nottingham Outlaws with a 30-22 verdict and second placed Siddal Academy demolishing North Hull Kinights 72-6.
Beverley got off to the best of all possible starts when they forced a Sharlston player into touch straight from the kick off. The ensuing set saw the ball moved swiftly to the left for Jack Humphries to score. Straw converted and there was soon more to follow in the 10th minute. Again swift hand to the left sent Billy Riby over who did well to score with a flurry of defenders clinging to him. The extras could not be added. Midway through the half Lewis Straw piled on the agony as he dummied and stepped his way to a try which he converted himself.
The visitors began to settle and enjoy improved territory. Jack Kirmond replied with a converted try to peg back the scores. The respite was brief as Lewis Poskitt then dummied and jinked his way to a try which Straw added the extras. The score remained 22-6 up until the break.
Five minutes into the second half again good hands to the left saw Sam Coleman cross wide out. Jack Kirmond then replied his second try with extras added the scores stood at 26-12. The score remained the same for a along period as the visitors enjoyed their best spell of the game. They threatened more points and really tested the defensive credentials of Beverley.
However, Beverley finished with a flourish. In the 68th minute, Jack Humphries was heavily influential in a movement that sent Lewis Colrein away for a try. Moments later, a smart blind side move saw man of the match Lewis Campion use his winger as a foil to dummy and score out wide. To round things off Jack Howdle broke from deep, and as he sensed the cover defenders closing in, flung a pass inside which went to ground. The ball was recovered, and Steve Connolly took advantage of the disarray to scamper over from dummy half.
This Saturday sees Beverley entertain Queensbury in the kick off 2.30 at the Beverley Leisure Centre.
The outfit from the Bradford area were promoted from Division One last year and have made a reasonable fist of things so far sitting in 5th place with three wins from seven starts.
Final Score: Beverley ARLC 44 Sharlston Rovers 12 | Reported By Nick Robinson
