Beverley ARLFC held their Annual Dinner as they welcomed special guest rugby league legend Leon Pryce, formerly of Bradford Bulls, St Helens, Catalan Dragons and Hull FC.
The night also saw the club hand out their awards for what has been a good season for the club who finished runners up in the Grand Final.
The blue and golds just fell at the final hurdle in their bid for Grand Final glory at the home of Batley Bulldogs on Saturday. They had to admit that the best team on the day won.
Beverley came into the final expecting a different type of game to the previous week’s war of attrition in the semi-final and their opponents expansive attacking machine proved to be just a little too much to handle.
This game was a much closer shave than the score-line suggests. The crucial moment in the game was the awarding of an eight point try to Beverley on the stroke of what appeared to be full time on most peoples watches.
Trailing 22-16 the Beverley were throwing the ball around desperately seeking points when Lewis Colrien’s kick towards the corner changed the game.
The blue and golds clinched their first league points of the season in a penalty riddled encounter at the Leisure Centre last Saturday. Almost every technical offence appeared to prompt a blow of the whistle.
It was an important day off the field with club entertaining sponsors and Beverley did manage some well worked tries in between the stoppages to at least put on something of a show. Injuries to Billy Riby, Lewis and Josh Poskitt and the late withdrawal due to work of Ryan Anson forced Howdle to juggle the starting lineup. Lewis Campion started at full back, Ben Naylor on the wing, and Jack Humphries slotted into the halfs.
The blue and golds were without a first-team game last Saturday but managed to arrange an ‘A’ team friendly against a side who will ply their trade much lower down the divisions of the Yorkshire Mens League.
Director of Rugby Pat Howdle took the opportunity to give some game time to some players who were returning from injury but there were some notable returns to the club in the shape of Joe Wileman Jamie Cadwellander and Harry Gibbins.
A debut try from Ryan Anson lit up Beverley ARLC first game in the Yorkshire Men’s League 40/20 cup.
A kick downfield by the visitors was fielded by Anson, who went on a run to the line beating countless defenders running from one corner of the pitch to another.