Fine Win Moves Beverley Off Foot of Table

A near gale force wind and two sides struggling at the foot of the table hardly suggested it was going to be an afternoon of classy rugby.

Not that classy rugby has featured much for either of these teams so far this season.  But Beverley belied all that.  They were unrecognisable from the side which was rolled over two weeks ago at Doncaster:Phoenix and they produced a fine performance here.  Not perhaps particularly classy but certainly thoroughly workmanlike.  They not only got the win but it took them off the bottom of the table.  Wheatley, it must be said, contributed in no small measure to what turned out to be an enjoyable game.  In the end Beverley were comfortable winners largely through their far more constructive play as well as showing an urgency which Wheatley seemed to lack.

Wheatley are a beefy side and they largely relied on their big men to individually power their way forward.  In the early stages they took the game to Beverley and soon established some supremacy in the scrums where the lightweight home pack was easily pushed backwards.  But when they got going Beverley increasingly got into the game.  A penalty in front of the posts, normally a formality for Phil Duboulay, was blown wildly off target by the fierce wind.  Wheatley at this stage were conceding penalties galore until referee Graeme Hall eventually lost patience and sent fly half Gillvray to the sin-bin

But Beverley were already beginning to look the more likely scorers and after twenty five minutes they went ahead.  A quickly taken tap penalty and attack down the left caught Wheatley napping and when the Beverley pack drove up to the line Martin Shaw dived through near the posts for a try which Duboulay converted.

Outmuscled though they were in the set pieces the Beverley forwards were never outplayed in the loose and after a forty metre drive from halfway only a forward pass denied Beverley a second try.  David Worrall was having a hugely influential game at number eight and Tarek Mursal at open side was not far behind.  Rhys Powell frequently caught the eye with some splendid tackling and when he came off the bench Babajibe Tunde again looked a useful acquisition.

But today it was not just about the Beverley pack.  Beverley’s game revolves around their solid half back pairing of Phil Duboulay and Andy Rowbotham and for the first time for some weeks they had pace and thrust available outside them.  James Buckland brought much needed penetration in the centre and the young wings Will Webster and Harrison Mayou both played with great spirit and showed plenty of dash.

Having battled against the fierce wind in the first half it was a commendable effort to turn round 7-0 up.  Early in the second half Buckland rounded off a slick passing move to add a second converted try and Beverley were immediately eyeing up a possible four try bonus point.  They were certainly playing the more constructive rugby but when they conceded a penalty near their own line Wheatley wing Marty Hall went over in the corner and the visitors were back in the match.

After that Wheatley upped their game although they seldom looked like breaking through the Beverley defence which was sound throughout.  None the less Beverley were leading by only one converted try until a Duboulay penalty again took them two scores clear.  They should have immediately added a third try but Jamie Gill opted to turn inside when he had a two man overlap outside him which would have brought a certain score.  The last ten minutes were fought out somewhat nervously with Beverley down to thirteen, Craig Hancock and Mursal both having been yellow carded.  Wheatley produced a strong final flourish but could not capitalise on their superior numbers and a combination of good defending and poor Wheatley handling saw Beverley comfortably home for a well deserved win.

Final Score: Beverley RUFC 17  Wheatley Hills 5 | Reported by John Nursey