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.
The blue and golds produced arguably their best performance of the season on their travels as Beverley took their chances and won 40-10 against Queensbury.
While the score-line would appear a little deceiving as the Beverley had to defend for long periods close to their own line as the home side’s offload game looked a constant threat.
The blue and golds were outplayed by the champions elect Siddal Academy as the visitors secured their second win over Beverley in as many weeks at the Beverley Leisure Centre.
Missing a few frontline players the home side found it difficult to contain their skillful and pacey opponents. However they did rally in the second half and it was to their credit that they kept the score respectable.
The blue and golds chalked up two more league points in a clash which they had to overcome the physical intimidation of the visitors to win. Such tactics were regrettable and needless as the big crowd soaking up the sun should have really have been treat to a tight contest between two evenly matched sides.
For the record, the referee sent off 2 Bentley players and sin-binned a further 3 and sin binned 2 from Beverley. One elbow to the face in the second half on Chris Johnson saw him taken to hospital with the club awaiting news.
The blue and golds chalked up two more league points as they dispatched a depleted but very spirited Sharlston outfit.
The men from the former West Riding mining village have a long tradition in the game but are in something of a rebuilding phase. Sharlston were among the title favourites in 2016.
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 edged out in this tight contest on the opening day of the league season. It was a quality game in which the home side’s game management was slightly the better of the two sides. Also the hosts were allowed to make far too many breaks up the middle for Beverley to give themselves a chance of winning. Pat Howdle commented; “We knew it was going…
This was a last minute heart-breaker for the blue and golds. The game hinged on the awarding of a penalty to the visitors in the dying minutes of the game.
Lewis Poskitt attempted to steal the ball in a one on one tackle but did not hear the referee call held so was penalised for interference.
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.
This was the final leg of a series of very tough pre-season friendlies which the Taylor,Howdle and O’Connor had organised, and on the surface of it they will take plenty of positives against NCL 1 opposition.
This was another entertaining warm up for the season with no shortage of passion but played in a generally good spirit.
This performance from the blue and golds will rank alongside the finest since they joined the Yorkshire League as they beat the league leaders at the Beverley Leisure Centre.
