Disappointment For Blue and Golds Who Go Down at Illingworth

This one was a difficult performance to comment upon. It could not be described as a poor performance but maybe an average one.

It seemed that the home side just wanted the points a bit more having just come off the back of a 64-0 hammering the previous weekend at Norland.

Whilst the blue and golds went into the game without their experienced skipper Tom Radley, they were able to recall Matt Liggins, Bobby Howdle, Ryan Watkin and Billy Riby to the starting lineup and so field a side which looked capable of returning home to Beverley with the points.

The blue and golds nearly hit the front after 3 minutes when Lewis Poskitt’s kick ahead was touched down by Steve Connolly but he was ruled to be offside. The home side made no mistake minutes later when the ball was moved wide for their winger Zack Thompson to break away from deep to score with extras added.

Illingworth continued to exert pressure on Beverley, who in turn put pressure on themselves by spilling possession too early in the tackle count. The defence had to work overtime with Steve Connolly really stepping up to the plate.

In one of the rarer attacks by the visitors, a long ball appeared to split the defence but Billy Riby could not hold onto the difficult pass with the line beckoning.

The Halifax outfit increased their lead in the 25th-minute courtesy Luke Sutcliffe crabbing across the field to score with extras again added for a 12-0 lead.

Beverley finally replied as half time was fast approaching. Jack Humphries took on the opposition with some nimble sidestepping to dive over beneath the posts for Josh Poskitt to convert. However, in a killer blow, Beverley lost the ball from the restart kick which allowed Zack Thompson to go over for a try right on the stroke of half time. The score stood at 16-6.at the break.

Early in the second half Beverley nearly pulled back a try but Craig Morfitt got into the clear only to be pulled back for a forward pass. Jack Fee then increased the home side’s lead with a converted try 10 minutes into the half, but it was almost immediately cancelled out.

Beverley’s re-start bounced into touch, and Lewis Poskitt went over from the base of the scrum for Josh Pokitt to convert and peg the score back to 22-12.

Beverley then lost possession close to their line, but some desperate defending kept the home side out. Then Lewis Poskitt appeared to have put Chris Johnson in the clear with a neat pass, but the referee ruled a forward pass.

The resulting scrum then saw Illingworth with possession move the ball to Zack Thompson, who broke away to complete a hat-trick. With the conversion added they looked in command at 28-12.

Beverley were not about to throw in the towel and Ryan Watkin’s break from deep saw him get a pass to send the visitors man of the match Bobby Howdle scampering away to score under the posts and extras were added.

It was all to play for with a little over 20 minutes remaining. Tempers then got a little frayed at this stage with Callum O’Connor spending ten minutes in the sin-bin alongside two Illingworth players.

A penalty goal was added by the hosts for them to lead 30-18 with 15 minutes remaining. The visitors still had plenty in the tank.

Josh Poskitt broke away from deep in his own half to score a solo try and convert and with 4 minutes, remaining Lewis Poskitt and Craig Morfitt moved the ball wide for Billy Riby to score.

The difficult conversion could not be added so Beverley were unable to snatch a draw.

Final Score Illingworth 30 Beverley ARLC 28 | Reported by Nick Robinson