In recent seasons Beverley at Hullensians have performed wretchedly, suffered defeat, and seen their season start to fall away.
This time though they never looked remotely like the side that had racked up over two hundred points in their last four games they at least they came away with the five-point win they wanted.
Following a warm and hospitable welcome from the West Leeds committee the clouds scattered to present ideal Rugby watching conditions.
The ground was dappled in the autumn sunshine with virtually no breeze. A feature that both kickers would take full advantage of.
What a match. This was what proper rugby at its best is all about. Two sides at the top of their game going hell for leather for eighty minutes – and with never a hint of ill-temper from start to finish. The result could have gone either way.
After a 66 point feast of scoring only two points separated the sides at the end and neither could have complained at the outcome whichever way it went. Beforehand there was an air of expectancy. Beverley arrived here on the back of four consecutive bonus-point wins and Heath’s recent record was not much inferior.
Back in October last year Beverley RUFC visited Hullensians and ended up on the wrong end of a 5-29 defeat.
That poor performance ended a four-match winning run and it took another month for the Beavers to recover their form and return to winning ways.
Guisborough kicked off in this Yorkshire League 1 match and had 5 points on the board before Beverley had touched the ball with a smartly taken try from Joe Whyman (0-5).
A stunned Beverley hit back and mounted a series of attacks, resulting eventually in a penalty which Phil Duboulay kicked to make it 3-5.
This was a cracking game with bags of thrilling rugby. Both sides played throughout with flair and ambition providing plenty for the spectators to enjoy in the autumn sunshine.
For three-quarters of the game, the advantage swung one way then the other. It was only when Heath went two converted tries ahead with twenty minutes left that either side began to dominate. Despite the loss, this was much more like it from Beverley. After the dire showing of the previous week, they played well here and deserved better than an eighteen point defeat.
In perfect playing conditions both sides contributed to an enjoyable game in the crisp autumn sunshine providing plenty of entertaining running rugby.
Beverley RUFC were clearly the classier of the two teams and they turned it on in the second half with some exhilarating play to bring them a comfortable victory.
In the end a comfortable win which took Beverley RUFC up to second place in Yorkshire One. After twenty minutes this match looked like being a whitewash.
Beverley were then already twenty four points up with a four try bonus point in the bag. But by the time the game went into its last quarter it had all changed and Beverley, while not exactly hanging on, were certainly having their work cut out to finish with the win.
Plenty here for Beverley RUFC to take encouragement from but still a hugely disappointing outcome to this opening fixture. For three-quarters of the match it had all looked so promising.
Beverley led 19-12, were well on top, and looked odds-on winners until they fell apart in the last quarter of an hour during which they conceded four tries and ended up with a fairly heavy defeat.
On a glorious sunny day with the pitch at Beaver Park looking in excellent condition, a good crowd were anticipating some good running rugby in the game between Champions York and a Beverley side seeking revenge for the single point defeat that they suffered at York on the opening day of the season last September. They were no to be disappointed!
York kicked off deep into the Beverley 22 and remained there until, after 2 minutes they were awarded a penalty. From the resulting line out, a sharp move resulted in a try under the posts which was converted to give York an early lead (0-7)
Ribblesdale kicked off with a beautifully judged kick by stand off Michael Thwaite, fielded by flanker Richard Wood, whilst the Beverley forwards failed to challenge it.
This set up a difficult opening 5 minutes during which the Beavers never touched the ball but in which the gave away 3 penalties! From the third of these Michael Thwaite gave Ribblesdale a deserved lead (0-3).
Beverley RUFC moved back to second in the table aftert they ground out a result against Bradford Salem is what was a unmemorable dominated by the constant sound of the referee’s whistle.
The referee was pernickety in the extreme throughout the match and, as a result, try as they did, neither side could produce any sort of flowing rugby.
On a fine, dry day Hullensians kicked off and immediately mounted an attack down the left flank. This was thwarted by some sound defending by Beverley but they were unable to make much headway into the Hullensians half initially and play was mostly concentrated on the Beverley 22.
On 7 minutes Hullensians were awarded a penalty which was successfully converted to give them a 3-0 lead. Despite the two sides looking to be pretty evenly matched, Beverley were unable to gain much possession and Hullensians were proving to be very good at retaining the ball. Eventually after 20 minutes, another successful penalty saw Hullensians take a 6-0 lead.
A five point bonus win but not one of Beverley’s better performances. They got there in the end but it was heavy going and Wheatley will think themselves unlucky not to have gone away with at least a losing bonus point.
Beverley struggled all afternoon to come to terms with the chunky Wheatley forwards who ran powerfully and proved difficult to bring down. Beverley did score four tries but three of them came from isolated bursts into enemy territory. In the end they won because they took their chances when they got them.
Beverley RUFC manager Will Turnbull said the lads ‘really showed up’ as they brushed aside Heath to reach the semi final of the Yorkshire Shield.
Heath, for the second week running, returned to West Yorkshire empty handed as The Beavers smashed the visitors 33-10 at Beaver Park.
For the second consecutive Saturday, Beverley RUFC entertained Heath, this time in the Yorkshire Shield Quarter final, and again triumphed in a fast exciting game.
From the kick-off Heath attacked and kept up the pressure on the Beavers’ line for the first ten minutes until Beverley managed to break out and move upfield with some good interpassing.
Beavers skipper Will Turnbull says his side were ‘incredible’ after they came from behind to beat Heath 33-30 at Beaver Park.
Beverley RUFC went into a match that many supporters felt would not be a good afternoon for the Beavers who scored in the dying seconds to snatch the win.
Bradford Salem started this match in a manner which belied their lowly league position and Beverley were put under extreme pressure for the opening 10 minutes.
Bradford’s forwards were swarming all over them, albeit usually from suspiciously looking offside positions, and they were unable to escape from their own 22 and hold onto the ball for long.