Perfect Start For Beavers As They Beat Old Crossleyans

Early autumn sunshine, a lush green pitch and the eager anticipation of a new season. All that was needed here was a fast open game, and these two sides duly provided it. Expectations for the season are high at Beverley RUFC and they got off to a good start with a convincing win. But it was by no means the stroll in the park the score suggests.

Crossleyans gave them plenty to think about and for much of the time Beverley RUFC were under severe pressure as their opponents ran hard at them. The first twenty minutes of the second half when they led by only seven points was a particularly grueling business for Beverley RUFC. For long spells, they were simply given the run-around.

But they weathered the storm and gradually Beverley RUFC’s greater flair and experience began to tell. In the end, they cruised home with plenty to spare.

They were unlucky to lose new flanker James Holland with a leg injury when the game was only three minutes old by which time he had already made his mark with a fine run through the midfield. Any side able to bring on a replacement of the caliber of Jon Stephenson is fortunate indeed, and he went on to have a fine match as did his fellow flanker, newcomer Joe Picketts.

Beverley RUFC had a solid look about them with last season’s long term absentees – Matty Adams, David Worrall and Phil Duboulay – all happily recovered and back in the side. The new substitution rule allowing a rotation from the bench was well employed by Beverley RUFC for whom Alex Ogilvie and Manu Kirkwood interchanged with devastating effect up front.

Crossleyans were the quicker into their stride. An early penalty attempt by their scrum half Ed Cockroft went wide, and a simple try was squandered when they lost the ball over the line. But for all Crossleyans’ early pressure Beverley RUFC looked to have the sharper cutting edge, and it was no surprise when they took the lead with a fine try by winger Lee Birch. Duboulay and Cockroft exchanged penalties before Beverley RUFC stretched further ahead with a second Birch try after Picketts had broken through from a quickly taken tapped penalty.

Beverley RUFC looked then as though they might easily cut loose but on the stroke of halftime just when a third try looked certain they lost the ball and Cockroft hacked upfield and won the race for the touchdown. Crossleyans at halftime recovered to be only one converted try adrift at 10-17.

And they started the second half in terrific fashion. Beverley RUFC had their work cut out to keep them at bay as Crossleyans ran everything in an attempt to get on terms. Full back Gareth Sweeney did get over in the corner for an unconverted try, reducing the lead to two points, but that was as far as they got.

With twenty, minutes left Beverley RUFC started to turn it on. Birch went over for a fine solo try, his third, following good work by Sam Atiola and Worrell. When the Crossleyan restart kick failed to reach ten metres Beverley RUFC took the scrum, and Goran Jelencic promptly raced through for a fourth try. Crossleyans then fell for the short lineout ploy allowing Worrall to burst away from the front of the line for a fifth and Duboulay rounded it all off with a lovely run through the midfield to touch down for a sixth. Duboulay had had a good match, kicking beautifully out of hand and converting all six tries as well as keeping the back line ticking over to good effect.

This was a good opening day for Beverley RUFC and despite the margin of defeat, Crossleyans too will probably derive a good deal of satisfaction from a hard fought and enjoyable game played in a good spirit. Much credit for this is due to referee Steve Penfold, who allowed the game to flow with minimum interference, although he will no doubt have been grateful for the helpful and unceasing advice he received throughout the afternoon from the Crossleyans’ touchline.

Final Score: Old Crossleyans 15 Beverley RUFC 45 | Reported by John Nursey