Beverley ARLC produced their most complete performance in both attack and defence last Saturday to claim both league points at the Beverley Leisure Centre on Saturday. Coach Guy Adams had a near full-strength squad to select from and chose to tinker with the positions a little.
Normal centres Mike Cooper and Ben Calvert were switched to the second rows, and Will Mail was switched to the centre. Lee Falcus was also drafted into the centre and Jake Hart-Fisher and Ashley Mayo lined up on both wings.
The home side enjoyed the greater of the possession and territory in the early moments of the match with half backs Lane and Watkin looking lively and bossing the show in attack. They were on the scoreboard inside 3 minutes. Rich Etherington’s strong burst set up the position for the ball to be shipped out to the left and saw Louis Hubbard dive over wide out. Watkin added the extras.
The visitors tried to hit back and gave the ball plenty of air in attack. They managed to get some repeat sets on Beverley’s line, but the home side appeared rock solid in defence.
Having withstood the onslaught Beverley managed to get down the other end of the field and increase their lead. Ben Calvert broke and got a pass away to Lee Falcus, who was pulled up short. Jake Hart-Fisher then managed to go over from the dummy half position. Watkin again tacked on the conversion.
The visitors again countered in attack but the host’s defence both close to the line and when scrambling was again more than equal to the task. On the half hour, the home side went further ahead courtesy of Louis Hubbard running a clever angle to crash over. Watkin converted. There were nearly more points when Rich Etherington’s barnstorming run saw him unlucky to lose the ball over the line. Beverley were good value for a
18-0 interval lead.
Early in the second half play was held up for twenty minutes while staff from both sides dealt with an injury to a Hull Wyke player who will hopefully prove to not be as serious as it first appeared.
When play resumed the visitors were quicker out of the blocks. They pulled back a converted try and the home side had the jitters conceding several penalties and putting themselves under pressure. Midway through the second half they steadied their nerves when the ball was moved to the left for Lee Falcus to send debutant Ashley Mayo over in the corner.
The visitors again replied with a try, but Beverley finished the game in complete command. Louis Hubbard dived over in spectacular style to complete a hat-trick and man of the match performance. Then Ryan Watkin went on a typically mazy run which led to the ball being shipped out to the right. Joe Wileman then got a well-timed pass away to send Steve Connolly scampering away to score in the corner as the final whistle beckoned.
Beverley have no fixture this weekend as things stand. There is now just one league fixture remaining away to Hull Isberg plus the usual end of season cups.
Final Score: Beverley ARLC 32 Hull Wyke’A’ 10 | Reported By Nick Robinson
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