This victory in a pre-season friendly against higher ranked opposition should prove a huge morale booster for Scott Taylor’s men ahead of the start of the campaign in March.
Beverley brought a strong squad of 19 along to Marist including a recalled Alex Starling out of retirement.
It proved to be a very strong and disciplined team performance which should set the bar high for 2019.
Beverley opened the scoring after 7 minutes when a kick which was fielded and ran out of defence by the Myton that saw the ball lost and Lewis Poskitt on hand to dart away and score under the posts, for Straw to convert. Beverley continued to handle confidently and quick hands to the left sent Josh Poskitt over. Straw again added the extras.
The hosts settled down to enjoy more possession and territory and Lee James pulled back a try to reduce the arrears. Adam Piggot further reduced them with a try on the half-hour mark which Kris Walker converted.
Then a bizarre incident as half-time approached saw the home side hit the front. The visitors looked to be pressing when Lewis Poskitt got a cheeky offload away only to see himself trapped under a pile of Myton players and an ensuing fracas.
Beverley lost the ball and Myton raced up-field. All eyes were on the fracas waiting for the referee to call play to a halt. The referee’s whistle did not sound and Adam Piggot took advantage of the confusion to score with Walker converting for Myton to lead 16-12.
The visitors quickly replied on the stroke of half-time with sweet handling to the right. Jack Howdle and Charlie D’Arcy both featured to send Aaron Higgingbotham over in the corner. Josh Poskitt converted for an 18-16 interval lead.
The early part of the second half was tightly contested until Alex Calvert broke the deadlock after 60 minutes. The second rower powered over after sustained pressure and repeat sets. Josh Poskitt added the touchline conversion for a crucial 24-16 lead. Not about to lie down Ben Bradshaw quickly pulled back a try that was converted for the home side to set up a tense final 15 minutes.
Aaron Higgingbotham’s second try effectively sealed the win for the visitors, as he squeezed over in the corner in the 72nd minute. Astute handling which was a feature of the afternoon’s performance again paved the way for the score.
Ever lively around the ruck area, Bobby Howdle was Beverley’s man of the match. This was the first time the blue and golds have won the annual friendly between the two sides which is also in aid of the Brain Recovery Charity.
A Myton Warriors spokesman later commented; “We can see the improvement in Beverley of recent years and under Scott Taylor, they seem on the early part of a journey to somewhere special.”
Final Score: Myton Warriors 22 Beverley ARLC 30 | Reported by Nick Robinson
