The visitors to Beaver park were Pontefract RUFC, flying high in the Yorkshire One table, and needing just one more victory to secure promotion their spirits were raised further upon arrival when they realised it was Ladies Day at Beverley RUFC.
The local derby trip to Bridlington for the Beavers was always going to be a tough challenge. The previous week Brid came away with an away win at top of the table Old Crossleyans and look to have secured the fourth spot in the league, which is the last promotion spot.
The weather was good for an open game of rugby, and in patches, Beverley’s backs looked impressive, unfortunately, the power of the imported front row and backline of the forward pack was too much, and Bridlington was deserved winners by the end of the afternoon scoring 46 points to Beverley’s 15.
Frequent spells of swirling rain and a fierce wind blowing diagonally from corner to corner; it might have been expected that this would be an afternoon of uninspiring rugby for supporters and those attending the ex-players reunion.
But surprisingly both sides made light of the conditions and produced an enthralling game with plenty of running rugby and end to end action.
The trip to Selby for the Beavers was always going to be a tough challenge, the physicality of the Selby pack and their ever-improving form in the league would always be a big test, especially for a Beverley team that has only won once this side of Christmas.
However, there was some hope as the weather relented the sun shone and the pitch was firm, although a little billowy there was a chance that Beverley’s own style of play might be allowed, and there was a sense of genuine hope that a victory might be achievable.
Not a day to remember. Or at any rate not for the rugby. Persistent heavy rain and a fierce downfield wind meant that from start to finish this game never developed into anything much more than a relentless forward slog. Expansive running rugby was out of the question.
On a dry day, this might have been an enthralling encounter between these old rivals. Goole arrived on the back of an upturn in form and an impressive victory the previous week against the league leaders.
A highly entertaining afternoon at Beaver park with ten tries, 5 yellow cards plenty of flowing rugby but Beverley ended up on the wrong end of a 24 -34 scoreline.
It was clear from the off that both teams’ intent and ability to attack was greater than the organisation of their defences. Within two minutes a sweeping move to the left with slick handling by Rob Smith and Dan Lee allowed Luke Hazell the luxury of time to slip recover and run over from 30 metres out. 5-0 Beverley.
After a bruising encounter last week at top of the table Middlesbrough, where Beverley represented themselves well but didn’t bring back any points, an away trip to the bottom of the table Bradford Salem looked an easier fixture, but there are no easy fixtures in Yorkshire one when you’re going through a transitional phase with the team and under a new head coach.
That head coach, Craig Hancock, was very pleased by the end of the afternoon having had a hard-fought battle with the home team who were looking for their third consecutive victory at home.
Against a team heading the table with only two previous defeats this season and having amassed nearly 500 points this was always going to be a tough afternoon for Beverley, especially at a ground where in the past they have seldom enjoyed much success.
Nonetheless, it was a hard-fought and entertaining game played in a fine spirit. Up to halftime, there was very little in it but as the game wore on the superior physicality and powerful running of the home side eventually told.
The supporters and guests at Beaver Park were treated to one more early Christmas present with another thrilling game of rugby between top of the table Old Crossleyans and Beverley.
Both teams battled to the end and delivered a very entertaining game of rugby, very well refereed by Simon Franks who allowed a fierce competition to ensue without too much incident and saw the home team give the top team only their second defeat of the season, Beverley 25 – 15 Old Crossleyans.
Not one of Beverley’s better days. They were unlucky in that the rub of the green throughout seemed to go against them but they were nonetheless well beaten here by a more determined and better-organised side.
Had Beverley played with the same finesse and vigour as they did in the thrilling victory against Huddersfield YMCA they would almost certainly have won this game comfortably.
The supporters and guests at Beaver Park were treated to an early Christmas present from the players of Huddersfield YMCA and Beverley. Both teams battled to the end and delivered a very entertaining game of rugby with a thrilling finish.
A crunch game, two mid-table teams needing to find more points in the league, who delivered an exhilarating afternoon of rugby with the home team finishing victorious 34-30.
This match had everything you would expect from a local derby plenty of tries, lots of incidents, red and yellow cards, and most of all lots of talking points.
It was a tale of the rapier versus the bludgeon from the off, with Beverley’s fast and flowing start sparked by Dan Lee’s incisive break leading to a switch of play from left to right resulting in a well-worked try for Jake Boardman.
Never pretty to watch but in the end, it all came to life with an exciting finish. Given that they were never really competing in the first half this was a good result for Beverley.
Throughout the half, they had been dire, totally lacking in any urgency or adventure. It was as though they had been addressed pre-match by an official from the Health and Safety Executive. A better side than Leodensians might have put thirty or forty points past them before halftime.
Another Jekyll and Hyde day for Beverley – badly below par one week and at the top of their game the next. Having slipped in recent weeks to an uncomfortably low position in Yorkshire One they needed a good win and they got it.
Beverley is currently going through a period of transition, having lost a number of players due to the long layoff and also the loss of head coach Will Turnball in the week before the start of the season.
It is taking the players a while to adapt to the different styles of play introduced by the new head coach and this is resulting in a great deal of frustration for their supporters.
A charity that is working to tackle cancer, heart disease and dementia received a fundraising boost from the annual ladies’ day at Beverley Rugby Union Club.
The event raised more than £3,000 for the Daisy Appeal with money coming in from lunch for more than 100 guests and an auction of specially-designed daisy team shirts.
Beverley’s rollercoaster season continued following last week’s sublime performance with a disjointed display that saw Beverley crash to their third defeat of the season 23 – 10 away from home at the hands of West Leeds.
Beverley Beverley 2nds entertained Hullensians 2nds in what was the first game for Beverley team this season.
Beverley were soon on the attack producing a quick ball for their backline. Centre Jacob Baggs opened the scoring with a try close to the posts, improved by scrum-half Joey Franklin playing his first game in yet another comeback.