The Beavers opened their win account in fine style after several close calls in the season’s early weeks. A sunny day and magnificent pitch gave the home side the conditions they crave to play their style of rugby. Beverley put a marker down as early as the fifth minute as a bullocking run from the base of a five-metre scrum by Callum Harvey opened the scoring 7-0.
The Pythons had come to play and soon were putting pressure on the home sides line, but Lewis Szrama robbed the ball from a ruck and quick hands fed the ball to Luke Hazell in his own 22 who then proceeded to round the winger and race the remainder of the field to extend the lead to 12-0. Undaunted the away side continued to press and after a solid lineout and several drives they spread the ball for their winger to score 12-5.
The next score was the Beavers, and a good one at that as Alex Calvert pounced on a loose ball flipped it to Pat Crumray who raced 40 yards before feeding Rob Smith who with a heap of work to do handed off his pursuers to score in the corner 17-5. Harrogate slotted a penalty to close the game to 17-8.
Hazell then proceeded to get his second of the game after good work again from Aiden and Alex Calvert, to extend the lead to 24-8. The full back continued to torment the visitors with another searing break on the left before feeding inside to the supporting Alex Argent Moss to race over under the sticks for a well deserved first try for the club. Beverley leading 31-8 at the break and a bonus point secured.
The Beavers looked to extend the lead after the break but were stymied somewhat by a yellow card reducing them to 14. However, Beverley’s early season resilience kicked in and a good defensive stint lead led by Danny Morris, Gav Jenney, and particularly Alex Calvert who managed to hold up the Pythons full back over the line kept Harrogate in check. Indeed, Callum Harvey extended the lead crashing over from close range after a lineout and several drives for the line 38-8. Beverley were in full flow now and returning Rob Smith jinked through the Harrogate defence before feeding Alex Calvert to score a much deserved score that his performance warranted.
The Pythons never gave up, and despite struggling in the line out finally got one right and drove for the line and got their second of the game. The Beavers came back again though as Isaac Keighley returning from his sabbatical in the Capital reminded the Beverley fans what they had been missing and as usual turned a messy scrum into go forward ball and flipped the ball to Pat Crumray to get the home side to the 50-point mark.
Harrogate continued to threaten and another yellow for Beverly allowed the visitors to grab another try with the last play of the game 50-20 final score. An impressive win for the home side over a good Harrogate team in what is in a very competitive Yorkshire 1.
By Stephanie Hazell
