This was more like it. Although they went down narrowly to high flying Middlesbrough Beverley RUFC were almost back to their best and were desperately unlucky not to win this match. Not many teams get any change out of a visit to Acklam Park but Beverley RUFC played enough good rugby here to have won this game comfortably. The home side were seldom in the Beverley RUFC 22 whereas Beverley RUFC spent about three quarters of the match in the Middlesbrough half. In the end Middlesbrough probably won because they made better use of fewer opportunities.
Beverley RUFC started brightly and only some wayward handling denied them taking an early lead. One crisp passage of play put winger Jamie Gill clear but instead of blasting for the line he inexplicably he threw the ball inside where it went to ground and the chance was lost. It proved an expensive miss because within three minutes Middlesbrough had struck. From a maul in midfield the ball was moved left to centre Rob Bellerby who cut through a yawning gap to touch down under the posts, winger Callum Campbell adding the conversion.
It was tough luck on Beverley RUFC who had had nearly all the play. They were playing with ambition and a ready willingness to run the ball from anywhere. Phil Duboulay was directing things astutely from fly half and Jade Gardiner in the centre was proving a real handful with some powerful running. Only poor handling denied them any tangible reward. Eventually their ambition did pay off. From a scrum in front of the posts the ball was moved right to Gardiner who forced his way to the line before stretching for the try. Ian Archibald added the conversion and Beverley RUFC were deservedly level. They very nearly took the lead almost immediately with another sharp move which sent Gardiner on a powerful looping run only to be tackled five metres short.
7-7 at halftime Beverley RUFC kicked off the second half looking the more likely winners. Their pack was again up against a bigger and more powerful eight but they were giving it everything. They tackled like tigers, were quicker to the breakdown, and at last looked to have got their lineout problems sorted. Gavin Gibson had a good day in the line while David Worrall, Tony Riby-French and James McKay worked tirelessly in the back row both in defence and attack. Phil Dale at full back performed heroically, frequently dealing with high hanging kicks with what must have seemed like half Middlesbrough bearing down on him.
Unfortunately whenever Middlesbrough got into their 22 Beverley RUFC became bogged down and were hard pressed to get out of it. After a series of bludgeoning assaults by the home pack on the Beverley RUFC line Middlesbrough were awarded a penalty try which full back Jack Bircham converted. Beverley RUFC still had it in them to win the game but another Middlesbrough try, touched down by winger Paul Norris, virtually settled it. Nonetheless the last quarter was nearly all Beverley RUFC. They created numerous chances and were twice unlucky when the referee blew for a Middlesbrough infringement a split-second before Beverley RUFC could capitalise on advantage. Goran Jelencic was particularly unlucky because the second time he was clear and would have scored under the posts.
With the last action of the match Beverley RUFC deservedly got some belated reward for all their effort when McKay broke away from a five metre scrum to touch down and earn them a useful bonus point. The final whistle no doubt came as a huge relief to the home side. The result was not perhaps what Beverley RUFC would have wanted but it was a splendid effort nonetheless and a welcome return to form after some recent indifferent performances. The final score – Middlesbrough 19 Beverley RUFC 12
