Beverley Academy can take heart from a spirited performance against a very strong Skirlaugh second string at the Beverley Leisure Centre on Saturday.
Some heavy overnight rain had put the fixture in doubt, but a 12 noon pitch inspection declared the playing surface fit.
The fast and skilful visitors attempted to blow their less-experienced hosts away in the first half as they raced to a 30-6 interval lead. Ex Beverley man Sam Roe and Dave Wilson were among the scorers. Lewis
Straw replied for Beverley with a long-range interception try in the 13th minute.
Warming to the task in the second half, Beverley enjoyed much more of the play. Lewis Campion and Lewis Straw managed to create from the halves allowing the likes of Louis Hubbard and Will Thompson to make some inroads.
15 minutes into the second half, Straw slid the ball into the in-goal area for Louis Hubbard to touch down wide out. Straw added the extras but Matty Harling (2) and Alec Foster touched down for the visitors to stretch their advantage to 48-12.
However, the home side never stopped battling especially the forwards with Callum O’Connor, Joe Wileman, Lee Stevens and Dan Clark all driving some hard yards.
In the dying minutes, Beverley got deserved consolation when full back and man of the match Tom Stark latched onto a break from Straw to go under the posts. The extras were added by Straw for a final score of 18-48.
Academy coach Phil Horsfield commented;
“I could not fault our effort and enthusiasm in the second half, and it shows we have got a lot to work with this season.”
Final Score : Beverley Academy 18 Skirlaugh Bulls 48
