Beverley 16-36 Crosfields
The Blue and Golds slipped to a disappointing defeat last Saturday on a very warm afternoon at the Leisure Center. They led for most of the first half but 4 tries, 2 of which were either side of the interval sealed the points for one of automatic promotion favourites.
Sam French commented “That was a difficult one to take for the group. We are making slow improvements but ultimately our game smarts let us down today. Fair play to Crosfields, they came with a plan and I thought they defended very well and gave us some bits we can take away in review this week. We are a very young side and as a group, we are slowly adapting to how we need to play and make those strides towards turning these games into wins.”
The match could not have started any better for the home side. An early attacking set saw Will Wallis run a good angle to crash over besides the posts in the 2nd minute. Francis Coggle added the extras for a 6-0 lead.
The visitors then put the home side under pressure. They played at a fast pace which took a lot of energy out of Beverley in defending numerous sets. It took it’s toll in the 12th minute when Luke Walker got on the end of a handling movement to the left to cross wide out. Jack Lewis added the extras to level things up.
Crosfields continued to enjoy more possession with Beverley scrambling well in defence. When they did get the ball in hand, Jack Howdle did make the most inroads against a well-drilled visiting defence.
On the half-hour mark, Beverley hit back. A kick on the last tackle hit a Crosfields defender but the referee ruled that the ball played the man and did not scrub the tackle count. Beverley continued to offload the ball with urgency until a further kick into the in-goal area saw Sam Beardshaw pounce to score. The extras were not added but Beverley now led 10-6.
In the final few minutes of the half, Kane Ditchfield and Hayden James crossed for the visitors both converted by Jack Lewis for them to lead 18-10 as the 2 sides headed for the shade at the interval.
The kick-off by Beverley in the second half was fumbled giving them an attacking set. However, possession was coughed up early in the tackle count.
Five minutes into the second half a mix-up by Beverley as they failed to deal with a Crosfields kick saw Jack Lewis cross to convert his own try.
As Beverley countered in attack, a high tackle on Joe Dobson saw Kane Dichfield spend 10 minutes in the sin-bin. Beverley failed to take advantage of the extra man and shipped further points in the 55th minute. Ben Stevens crossed goaled by Jack Lewis to effectively seal the contest at 30-10.
Beverley did refuse to throw in the towel and hit back. Some strong runs by Ellis Dickinson and Harry Cooke set up good field position. The ball was worked across to Francis Coggle who twisted and turned in the tackle to touch down in the 58th minute. Joe Dobson added the extras.
Beverley continued to speculate and a long pass in his own 20-meter zone by Francis Coggle found Lewis Miller. Miller stepped inside a few defenders to find himself in space. The danger was however snuffed out by the Crosfield’s cover defence.
In the dying minutes, Hayden James added a further score for the visitors converted by Lewis to complete the scoring at 36-16.
Beverley’s man of the match was Lewis Poskitt who worked tirelessly to try and open up a very well-organised visitors defence.
Nick Robinson
Beverley
Tries: F. Coggle, W. Wallis, S. Beardshaw
Goals: F. Coggle, J. Dobson
Crosfields
Tries: L. Walker, H. James (2), K. Ditchfield, B. Stevens, J. Lewis
Goals: M. Barber, J. Lewis (5)
