The Blue and Golds made this short West Yorkshire trip more in hope than expectation, with an injury list too long to mention.
Beverley had to dig deep into their playing staff and handed NCL debuts to Will Turnbull, Joe Dobson, Sam Beardshaw and Macca Cromack. It turned out to be a brave effort against a far bulkier and more experienced home outfit.
What an extraordinary match. The final score made it look close but it seldom was. After twenty-five minutes Beverley was cruising at 19 – 0 up and playing some fluent attacking rugby.
Fifty minutes later they were 40-26 down having been given a thorough going-over by a resurgent home side. A strong comeback in the last five minutes then brought them back up to within two points to earn them a bonus point.
A visit from West Leeds is always a tough encounter for Beverley, especially so when given their form had dipped due to injuries and unavailability.
It was important that Beverley got back to winning ways to keep touch with the top two in the league.
An away trip to Bridlington is always tough for Beverley, especially so when the form has dipped due to injuries and unavailability.
Add to this the fact it is a local derby and that the home team wanted revenge after their convincing loss earlier in the season at Beaver Park.
Beverley knew the visit of Dinnington RUFC to Beaver Park was going to be a tough one after last season’s encounter when they stifled the Beverley game plan so effectively it was reminiscent of what South Africa did to England last weekend.
This occasion had a much better outcome for the Beavers, playing at home in the cold sunshine on a squelchy pitch, an entertaining 9 try game saw Beverley finish worthy winners 36-22.
Beverley knew the visit of Heath to Beaver Park was going to be a tough one. It always is, and more recently the men from Halifax have had the edge, utilising their strength to better advantage than Beverley’s.
Heath’s strength being a forward pack that is probably the strongest and best drilled in the league, Beverley’s strength is their fast and creative backs that can score tries from anywhere.
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.
After fifteen minutes this match looked certain to end with a comfortable bonus-point win for Beverley. After eighty minutes they had been soundly beaten and deservedly so.
Their game fell away to an alarming extent as the match wore on – perhaps not becoming quite as dire as the shambles at Hullensians but not far off it.
Beware the ides of March. But not this week. After the dismal affair a week ago at Dinnington Beverley were back on top form securing another outstanding bonus point win – the seventh in their last eight games.
Crossleyans started the match only one point behind Beverley but never really got a look-in and Beverley comfortably cruised home scoring six tries in the process all of which Phil Duboulay converted in difficult conditions.
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.
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.
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)
Beverley RUFC kicked off in this top of the table clash at Beaver Park with both sides looking to pick up the points to consolidate their positions in second and third place respectively.
After 5 minutes a Scarborough forward was caught offside and Phil Duboulay kicked the resulting penalty (3-0).
Beverley came out on top against Heath for the third time this season in a bruising encounter at North Dean, Halifax, to maintain their second position in the league and put a dent in Heath’s promotion ambitions.
The dreadful weather conditions prevailing did not suggest the prospect of much flowing rugby and so it turned out with the result that we saw a dour contest largely played out between the two forward packs.
Beverley hosted a resurgent Selby at Beaver Park on a miserable wet and grey day when conditions were bound to be difficult to allow much entertaining rugby and, so it proved.
The match was held as a Memorial game to celebrate the life of Lee Morley, a good friend of the club who, sadly passed away last year. Proceedings from the match and lunch raised over £3000 to be donated to Ward 29 at Castle Hill hospital at the request of Lee’s family in thanks for the care given to Lee during his extended time there.
Beverley RUFC return to action this weekend as they welcome Selby to Beaver Park in a match manager Will Turnbull says with be a war of attrition.
Turnbull and his side are flying high in second place in Yorkshire Division One of the North Divisions, and their incredible home form means they are in the driving seat for a playoff position.
Will Turnbull says that Beverley RUFC face another huge match this weekend as they hit the road to take on Keighley in the Northern Division.
Beverley are flying high in the league, currently in second place occupying the a playoff position knowing that every point matters in the run in.