Fast, furious, and wholly enjoyable. In the end Beverley RUFC emerged with their 100 per cent record in tact but boy they had to work hard for it. For half the match they were all over the place, particularly up front where they looked distinctly pedestrian against a Malton pack playing with far greater urgency. Nor did they look too comfortable on their own put-ins and their discipline was not too good either.
Fortunately the second half was a totally different matter. They kept the ball better and started producing some scintillating rugby. Even so, with ten minutes left Malton had got back to within a converted try of taking the lead. Only a Beverley RUFC try in the last minute finally settled it and gave them what had the appearance of a comfortable victory.
Straight from the kick-off Beverley RUFC were given a sharp warning that they were in a game here. Apart from a brief flourish when Beverley RUFC might have scored it was Malton who had all the early play and they deservedly took the lead with a try by fly half Charlie Ramsay after ten minutes. But Beverley RUFC did eventually start to threaten, at least in the backs, in spite of not seeing much ball. One nice run down the left touchline by Leki Atiola very nearly brought a try for Richard Bussey, and Lee Birch would have had one on the other wing had Bussey not hung on after making a good breakout from defence. Matters were not helped for Beverley RUFC by the loss of Francis Pickering with an injury which hampered the tactical use of their bench for the rest of the game.
They continued to look pretty lethargic up front and they fell further behind from a penalty by Malton full back Ian Cooke. With the game a quarter gone a thrilling run down the wing by Birch at last raised the spirits. Although Birch was stopped just short the ball was recycled to the opposite wing where Bussey crossed for a try which Birch converted to reduce the deficit to 8-7.
The loss of Joe Picketts and Junior Tupai with yellow cards, and another Cooke penalty for Malton, then left Beverley RUFC facing a sticky last ten minutes of the first half. Nonethess they hit back bravely with their reduced ranks and deep into injury time were awarded a penalty try which Birch converted to put them 14-11 ahead. After a patchy first half in which they had been largely outplayed Beverley RUFC could hardly believe their good fortune to be turning round in the lead, especially as the penalty try that got them there looked to have been a somewhat fortuitous decision.
Possibly as the result of a few choice halftime words from coach Anthony Posa Beverley RUFC were a different proposition in the second half. They immediately started to match their opponents in the urgency with which they went about things. With better possession the home backs at last began to turn it on and they created numerous good openings. Only resolute Malton tackling kept them out but after twelve minutes of the half Atiola rounded off some slick interpassing to increase the home lead with a well worked try. Birch’s conversion took Beverley RUFC to 19-11 and two scores ahead.
Malton however were by no means done. Only a tremendous last ditch tackle by Birch covering across from the opposite wing prevented the lively Tom Newitt getting in at the corner. Malton continued to press and ten minutes from time another Cooke penalty got them to within a converted try of the lead. Beverley RUFC now found themselves facing a tight finish. Only in the last minute did they make certain of victory when Goran Jelencic touched down in the corner for a converted try which also earned them a useful bonus point. So Beverley RUFC continue to march on and remain first equal in the table. For their part Malton could count themselves extremely unlucky not to go away with at least a bonus point.
Final Score: Beverley RUFC 26 Malton & Norton14 | Reported by John Nursey
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