An away trip to Bridlington is always tough for Beverley, especially so when the form has dipped due to injuries and unavailability.
Add to this the fact it is a local derby and that the home team wanted revenge after their convincing loss earlier in the season at Beaver Park.
Although an improved performance on the previous week, Beverley was somewhat disjointed given the absentees, and the result went in favour of the home team 21 – 15.
The five defeats that Beverley have had this season have all been to narrow margins, and this was no exception, even with the last play of the ball the game could have been stolen from Bridlington.
Beverley opened the scoring with a penalty from Phil Duboulay, flyhalf and captain, on 10 minutes. The two teams were evenly matched, and both guilty of making too many mistakes, but on 27 minutes after a sustained period of pressure, Bridlington were able to crash over the Beverley try line, well converted to take it to 7 – 3.
Ten minutes later Beverley bounced back with a quick tap and go at penalty close to the home team’s line, Isaac Keighley was able to power over, converted by the captain. Just before half-time, the lead swapped again as the Seasider’s took advantage of a good line break, and Otis Floyd was able to weave through for a converted try 14 – 10 at half-time.
This was a tight game, and there were notable performances from Alex Morris, Rhys Innis, Lewis Szrama, Liam Butler and Jack Foster, and a man of the match performance from Alfie Hart-Fisher. The team were also buoyed by the return from injury of the head coach and inside centre Will Turnbull, whose knee held up thankfully, and there was a good debut for full-back Mike Ellis.
The second half had just two tries to offer, the first coming to Beverley on 50 minutes. Quick thinking from Rob Smith released Rhys Innis for 15 yards, who offloaded brilliantly to Jack Foster who powered 50 yards down the wing breaking three tackles along the way, the best move of the game by far.
The final pendulum did swing in favour of Bridlington however when they were awarded a penalty try as the maul pushed over the Beverley try line, the referee Nia Parsonage who are had a good game, deemed the maul to have been illegally brought to the ground, for which Beverley prop Danny Morris was yellow carded.
Beverley did show some zest in the final 10 minutes of the game and looked dazzlingly close to stealing back the result, but the home team’s defence held up until Beverley lost possession, the Seasider’s scrambled the ball into touch quickly, final score 21 – 15.
A losing bonus point, the knowledge that some more of the injured players should be able to return in a couple of weeks, and that the performance was an improvement on recent weeks were the positives that Beverley could take from the game, which was fought in good spirits and a great advertisement for Yorkshire One rugby, well done to both teams.
