This game was a much closer shave than the score-line suggests. The crucial moment in the game was the awarding of an eight point try to Beverley on the stroke of what appeared to be full time on most peoples watches.
Trailing 22-16 the Beverley were throwing the ball around desperately seeking points when Lewis Colrien’s kick towards the corner changed the game.
Josh Poskitt leaped up to challenge for the ball and touched down. He collided with a defender and both players went down injured.
Play was held up for several minutes until the referee awarded a try and ruled that Poskitt was fouled in the act of scoring thus giving Beverley an extra shot at goal. Bobby Howdle converted the more difficult shot wider out and then the one in front of the posts to put Beverley ahead.
The referee then played an extraordinary amount of stoppage time in which Beverley added a further two tries. The home side played their part in an absorbing contest and will consider themselves unlucky to come away empty handed.
A relieved head coach Scott Taylor commented;
“We got the win that’s all that matters and with games running out we need to win the lot to secure fourth place.”
Fielding one of their stronger sides this season the visitors looked in complete control in the opening 15 minutes. They gave the ball plenty of air on the wide well grassed university pitch and offloaded the ball almost at will. In the 5th minute they took the lead.
Lewis Poskitt’s clever kick into the in-goal area was pounced on by Billy Riby to score and Josh Poskitt to convert. Lewis Poskitt seemed to be running the show with his kicking game at this stage. In the 10th minute he chipped ahead re-gathered and sent Steve Connolly over for a try wide out.
The extras could not be added. The hosts edged their way back into the game and Beverley’s defended a number of sets close to their line well.
On the half hour mark Beverley nearly went further ahead when another teasing kick into the in-goal area was again pounced on by the pacey Billy Riby but he was judged to have bounced the ball. The home side replied with a try form Jimmy Goodwin which was converted to pull the scores back to 10-6 at the interval.
Early in the second half a kick on the last tackle caused a mix up in the Nottingham ranks and Lewis Poskitt pounced to score too wide out for the extras to be added. The pressure was however again soon on the visitors as they spilled possession in their own half on the field.
They had too much defending to do and cracked. Adam Simm went over for the hosts to narrow the lead to 14-10. In the 65th minute the home s inide got in front when a kick into the in-goal area was pounced on by Adam Cunliffe. The extras were added and home side were in the lead for the first time at 16-14.
Beverley got in a dangerous attacking position in the 70th minute and Nottingham were penalised for interference at the play the ball. Josh Poskitt slotted over a penalty to level the scores at 16-16. Five minutes later it looked like the hosts had snatched the win.
The ball was moved wide to the left where their speedy winger Adrian Chaima raced away from half way to score. With the conversion tacked on the scores stood at 22-16. There seemed to be only the dying minutes remaining and the visitors moved the ball around in desperation until the deciding incident and rarely awarded 8 point try.
Spectators at the match were left wondering just when the final whistle was going to be heard. It seemed that around 13 minutes of stoppage time was played and during this time. Alex Calvert and Bobby Howdle added further tries to slightly distort the score what was an exciting and close contest.
Man of the match was Bobby Howdle whose non stop efforts tipped the vote with Luke Inglis who also got through a similar amount of work not far behind.
Mention must also be given to the ‘A’ team of whom Phil Horsfield has just taken charge. They defeated Heworth ‘A’ 24-16 with tries from Nial Sydney, Charlie Bardle, Will Thompson and Ryan Anson. There were good performaces in the forwards from Dan Clarke and Joe Wileman.
Half backs Anson and Bardle and hooker Will Thompson ran the show well. There was impressive debuts from Dan Normam and Nial Sydney who bagged a length of the field try.
The blue and golds are just playing ‘A’ team fixtures on an ad hoc basis this season but are looking to form a more regular outfit for 2018 which should add more depth to the club.
Final Score : Nottingham Outlaws 22 Beverley ARLC 36 | Reported by Nick Robinson
