Blue & Golds Sparkle In The Sunshine As They Secure Much Needed Win

The Blue and Golds earned 2 points which will prove invaluable in a very tight relegation scrap in which the bottom 5 sides in division 2 now all sit on 6 points.

On a warm afternoon at the Potting Shed, the home side overcame a far bulkier Bradford outfit who clearly came with the intent of using that bulk to steamroller their opponents.

Enthused by the performance Sam French commented how the game was a very tough and physical encounter and one from the group will take a lot from moving into the remainder of the season.

He said;

“The pleasing part for me was how well we controlled the game in difficult parts when it got tough, then we rounded it off with some well-worked tries to make it a successful afternoon. This week is a huge one in which we need to prepare well.”

The home side hit the front in the 6th minute. A dummy and shimmy from Lewis Poskitt saw him pulled up just short. A quick play the ball and quick hands then sent Luke Parker over wide out on the left. The extras were not added.

Minutes later Poskitt was in the thick of it again when his pass looked to have sent Luke Parker over. Parker was tackled before he got the ball with an open line. The home side had strong claims for a penalty try but only a penalty was awarded and the resulting set came to nothing.

The visitors hit back midway through the first half. Beverley failed to complete sets a couple of times and put themselves under pressure.

Dudley Hill converted that pressure into points as Damien Smith crossed in the corner for unconverted score. In the 25th minute he was on hand again to give the visitors the lead. They regained possession from a kick on the last and a further kick to the corner found Damien Smith in acres of space for him touch down. The extras were not added again but Dudley Hill were 8-4 up.

The lead changed hands again in the 35th minute. Sam Roe ran a good angle to send Beverley’s player of the match Dan Precious over beside the posts. Josh Poskitt obliged with the extras to put Beverley 10-8 up.

Drinks breaks on a warm afternoon and attention to an injury saw the first half drag on for an extra 8 minutes. It was deep in stoppage time at the end of the half when Beverley went further ahead.

A break from deep in his own half by Bobby Howdle saw him with only the full-back to beat with supports on either side of him. He did not need any of them and dummied his way to a try. Josh Poskitt converted to send Beverley 16-8 up going into the break.

The visitors came out with renewed energy early in the second half. They piled on the pressure and a couple of very tricky high bombs were well diffused by Billy Riby.

Beverley struck a crucial blow in the 51st minute. Callum Cone sneaked out of dummy half to put Francis Coggle in the clear who chipped ahead over the full-back. The ball bounced perfectly for him to regather and score beside the posts. Josh Poskitt stretched the home sides lead to 22-8 lead with the conversion.

The Lewis Poskitt kicking game was having it’s influence on the game. One such kick to the corner saw a Dudley Hill player cornered and dragged into touch. The repeat set soon saw the ball shipped to the right for Billy Riby to score. Josh Poskitt then stretched the advantage to 28-8 with the conversion mid-way through the second half.

Beverley now looked dominant and looked to be winning the forward battle. Ellis Dickinson impressed with some good yardage and Billy Riby looked to add a second try when breaking from deep only to be ankle tapped at the last-ditch.

Aiden Batey did reply with a try for the visitors converted by Neil Wall in the 70th minute. However very soon after, a break by Alex Calvert saw him send Francis Coggle away for his second. The extras were not added but the game was safe at 32-14 with 7 minutes left.