Beverley knew the visit of Keighley RUFC to Beaver Park was going to be a tough one.
Both teams prefer to set a platform for fast-flowing running and passing rugby.
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.
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.
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.
In perfect conditions, a good crowd at Beaver Park on Saturday were treated to an exhibition of champagne rugby.
Beverley ran in 10 tries, 9 of which were converted, to 3 with I converted by Bradford Salem.
Back in October last year Beverley RUFC visited Hullensians and ended up on the wrong end of a 5-29 defeat.
That poor performance ended a four-match winning run and it took another month for the Beavers to recover their form and return to winning ways.
New year, new Beverley. After a disappointing late autumn in which they rather lost their way Beverley in 2019 look to have recaptured the early season spark that had them riding high in Yorkshire One.
Following their impressive win the previous week against Pontefract this was another first-class display and another well earned victory. Moreover, for most of the game, they did it with fourteen men after Alfie Hart-Fisher had been red-carded early on for dangerous play. They owed a lot to their pack which even down to seven men still ended the game looking the stronger of the two sets of forwards.
Beverley RUFC started the second half of the season entertaining Pontefract on a cold and grey day, but at least dry conditions underfoot made the prospect of some good rugby realistic and so it proved.
In September the Beavers secured a victory over Pontefract in the corresponding fixture over in the West Riding. Results since then shown that Ponte has improved substantially and they currently sit fourth in the table, with 13 points more than Beverley.
Beverley RUFC beat Selby 20-14 in a match that club officials say would be best forgotten due to fighting and weather.
For all the wrong reasons the match proved to be an eventful one at Beaver Park. Played out for the most part in atrocious conditions with the standard of rugby reflecting that.
A close run thing but Beverley eventually went out of the Yorkshire Shield. It was a high scoring and absorbing game throughout and in the end, there were only two points in it.
Perhaps the relevant factor was that while Beverley’s scores all came from their own exertions every Moortown point resulted directly from a Beverley error. Beverley should have won this match comfortably but simply gave it away through their own profligacy.
This was a cracking game with bags of thrilling rugby. Both sides played throughout with flair and ambition providing plenty for the spectators to enjoy in the autumn sunshine.
For three-quarters of the game, the advantage swung one way then the other. It was only when Heath went two converted tries ahead with twenty minutes left that either side began to dominate. Despite the loss, this was much more like it from Beverley. After the dire showing of the previous week, they played well here and deserved better than an eighteen point defeat.
In perfect playing conditions both sides contributed to an enjoyable game in the crisp autumn sunshine providing plenty of entertaining running rugby.
Beverley RUFC were clearly the classier of the two teams and they turned it on in the second half with some exhilarating play to bring them a comfortable victory.
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.
Plenty here for Beverley RUFC to take encouragement from but still a hugely disappointing outcome to this opening fixture. For three-quarters of the match it had all looked so promising.
Beverley led 19-12, were well on top, and looked odds-on winners until they fell apart in the last quarter of an hour during which they conceded four tries and ended up with a fairly heavy defeat.
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)
Ribblesdale kicked off with a beautifully judged kick by stand off Michael Thwaite, fielded by flanker Richard Wood, whilst the Beverley forwards failed to challenge it.
This set up a difficult opening 5 minutes during which the Beavers never touched the ball but in which the gave away 3 penalties! From the third of these Michael Thwaite gave Ribblesdale a deserved lead (0-3).
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).
Not much joy here for Beverley. Over the years they have seldom had much success at Acklam Park and today was no exception. A catalogue of errors, missed tackles, and conceded penalties, left them trailing 22-5 at halftime. It was not a great first half. They were left with a big hill to climb and in the end it proved just unattainable despite a splendid second half effort which got them to within striking distance of taking the lead.
The first quarter of an hour seemed to be little more than a relentless stream of penalties awarded against Beverley in their own 22. For some time it looked ominously likely that we were in for a second successive dismal week of incessant whistle blowing.