RUGBY UNION : Beverley Denied Victory At The Death

This match was Beverley’s to lose. And at the death they duly did.  They had led 8-3 from early on and had successfully rebuffed all Cleckheaton’s efforts to get back into it.

Cleckheaton had had a good deal more of the play but Beverley’s defence was superb throughout and in attack Beverley had played the classier rugby.  That they ended up losing was eventually down to their own waywardness.  They lost too much turnover ball and time after time they threw away possession with poor and pointless kicking.  It was a pity because when they kept the ball in hand Beverley always looked the more dangerous side.

Beverley welcomed back David Worrall and Tony Maka giving them more experience in the back row and both had good games.  More importantly perhaps for the first time this season they had power and pace on both wings with Sam Atiola and the returning Goran Jelencic in action.  Beverley started well too.  Maka in the opening minutes burst through and almost put Jelencic clear but after ten minutes Beverley did deservedly take the lead with a Phil Duboulay penalty.

Beverley were well on top in the early stages and stretched their lead with a splendidly taken try.  A crossfield kick by Junior Tupai found Maka who put Worrall clear.  Although Worrall was brought down he lobbed the ball up to the onrushing Jelencic who raced over.  Duboulay’s conversion attempt just shaved the wrong side of the post but Beverley were at this stage in the ascendancy and several times looked likely to add to their score.  A continuous stream of penalties awarded against Cleckheaton, nearly all for offside, was proving an added bonus.

As the half progressed Cleckheaton got more into the game and full back Ross Hayden kicked a penalty for a deliberate knock-on in front of the posts for which Jelencic was yellow carded.  Several times it was back to the wall stuff for Beverley but their defending was outstanding and halftime arrived at 8-3 with the visitors still not having been able to breach the Beverley line.

 

Much of the second half was more of the same with Cleckheaton striving to get back into it and Beverley heroically keeping them out.  Beverley made it harder for themselves by frequently losing possession at the breakdown or giving possession away with needless kicking.  Not only did they kick far too much but they generally kicked poorly.  With ball in hand they were the more inventive side and always looked threatening.  Atiola was having a fine match as was Jelencic on the opposite wing and Duboulay, Tupai and Richard Bussey formed a solid midfield.  The lineouts were again going like clockwork and the pack generally were tackling like demons.  It was just a pity that so often when quick movement was needed the ball was kicked instead of being moved wide.

Twice a three-on-one situation was wasted as Beverley squandered several chances to put the game to bed.  A penalty on the Cleckheaton line then gave them the opportunity to go two scores clear.  But instead of taking the points they opted for a scrum which they promptly lost.  It was a decision that probably cost them the match.

At the time there were barely ten minutes left and Cleckheaton’s response was almost immediate.  Still only one score behind they attacked down Beverley’s right, won a lineout, and prop Callum Thompson drove over.  Rayner converted from wide out and Cleckheaton were in front at 10-8.

Having nosed ahead they then ended on a high with their pack powering its way into the corner in the last minute and flanker Jack Seddon touching down for a second converted try.  Beverley had been denied even a losing bonus point.  It was perhaps rough justice for a fine rearguard effort but in truth they had only themselves to blame.  If you spend the afternoon kicking possession away you must expect to pay the price.

Final Score: Beverley RUFC 8  Cleckheaton 17 | Reported by John Nursey