The final day victory that kept Beverley RUFC in Division Three North proved beyond a shadow of a doubt they deserved to stay in the division.
They showed, with a full-strength team and with their minds fully on the job, they can compete with anyone in the division. Middlesborough found that out emphatically at Beaver Park on Saturday.
Tries from Sam Atiola and Junior Tupai in the first period, and Atiola, Chris Harding and Chris Infield, allied to superb place-kicking from Phil Dale – playing his last game for the club – meant they fully deserved their 33-16 victory and their place in National Three North.
It was the overall performance of the team, though, that bodes well for next season and, perhaps, leaves supporters and players alike frustrated that they couldn’t have made life a lot easier on themselves.
On their day they have been as good as any other side in the Division and at its best their rugby has been of high quality.
It was probably no coincidence that the barren spell which saw them slip into the relegation zone occurred during the absence of Phil Duboulay and Chris Infield their regular halfbacks.
There is much they can take satisfaction from.
They have developed a solid workmanlike pack which has invariably held its own and their backline, with Junior Tupai the hub, has looked liable to cut loose against anybody.
John Stephenson and Matty Adams have proved excellent acquisitions up front, while Glen Walden in the backs is fast developing into a fine winger.
Adams did not miss a single game and his steady grafting week in and week out in the second row deservedly won him the Player’s Player of the Season award.
David Worrall’s contribution as both player and skipper has again been unmeasurable.
Although the excellent Dale is leaving the area and has played his final game for Beverleu, all in all with the quality that now exists in the club there seems no reason why Beverley RUFC should not look forward to next season with optimism.
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