Braves Share Spoils In Summer League

To continue to give the rugby league teams who wish to play during the school holiday period, the league decided to run a 9 – a side tournament.

Normal 13 a side rules but no scrums and drop kicks by the try scorer instead of conversions. Four teams headed to East Hull, Beverley Braves took on Hull Isberg and East Hull took on Skirlaugh A with the winners of each match playing each other.

Beverley played Hull Isberg, making impressive yards from the off through Dylan Clifford’s strong charging run. The Braves took the ball out wide for Jack Brown to score an excellent opening try converting well.

The Beverley Braves continued to dominate the game and used the width well to reach Harry Gray who scored cleverly out wide. It was then Isberg who took charge and retaliated in the best way possible with their own score out wide.

Brown managed to break through Hull’s defence with a strong attacking run to score his second, only for Isberg to add their own. Harry Bell made an excellent scoot side stepping players and his massive effort was rewarded as the ball reached Joe Wardill who powered over and converted to make the half time score 20 – 8.

It was Isberg who made the better start in the second half despite superb runs from Harry Bulleyment, who broke tackles so well. The game was played at a blistering pace on full size pitches and only 9 players and impressive running from Hull saw them edge closer to the Braves with another score.

Wardill added to his tally only for Isberg to bring it to within 6 points with some explosive runs. Beverley held though and started passing the ball, Keegan Bartlett linking the play well with the ball finding its way down the line in true Braves style and were rewarded with 2 lovely tries for Harry Gray and Owen Harrison. Isberg scored once more to finish the game 36 – 22.

With only a 5 minute break Braves had to meet the formidable East Hull. Despite players putting everything into the last match Beverley’s determination never faltered and a great drive found James McGahey who cleverly chipped the ball over the East Hull line for Wardill to pick up and score, adding the conversion.

From the play of the ball Clifford made a superb tackle forcing a knock on but a high kick near the Hull line was gathered cleanly by East’s who made a break from their own half and accelerated beyond reach to score.

Winger Conor Egan saw a lot of the ball today and made some exciting runs. Connor Davies worked hard in the middle. Moments before half time East scored again making this close match 6 – 10 at the whistle.

Beverley were up for the challenge despite players picking up knocks and it was the Braves who ran over the line first as a driving run from Wardill released Harrison who finished brilliantly despite players running at him. Gray scored his third try of the day out wide as he ran the ball over beating the defensive line superbly.

East replied with another try but it was Wardill who ran hard in the final minutes to level the score 18 – 18 claiming a deserved man of the match in the process.