Beavers go 14 points clear at top of table
Beverley v Pocklington
Beverley 49
Pocklington 5
SEVEN tries, seven conversions. Beverley comfortably continued their good run and they now stand 14 points clear of their nearest rivals at the top of North One East.
With eight of their senior players missing Beverley might have approached this game with some apprehension, particularly in the light of Pocklington’s style of play which centres almost entirely on their powerful pack.
Indeed for 20 minutes they pounded away at the home line and kept Beverley pinned it their own half.
But to no avail. The Beverley tackling was solid and as soon as their own backs got the ball Beverley promptly ran in two converted tries within the space of a minute to take command.
At a stroke the final outcome was as good as settled.
The difference in the sides throughout was in Beverley’s speed and far superior support play. Pocklington could never match it either in defence or attack and whenever the Beverley backs had the ball in their hands you felt that a score was likely.
David Worrall broke through on halfway to set up the first try for Rob Smith, and then immediately caught the restart kick to start a back move which brought the second.
Phil Duboulay made a clean break in midfield, moved the ball left, and Sam Atiola rounded off some slick passing to race over.
Within 10 minutes they had added a third from Goran Jelencic and it was virtually all over.
Pocklington’s powerful forward effort gradually waned as the home pack steadily gained momentum.
Worrall was a thorn in their flesh all afternoon and Joe Picketts was not far behind.
Alex Ogilvie with several powerful runs took some stopping. It was a fine burst by him which brought Beverley their fourth try, touched down in the corner by Tomasi Tanumi just before half time.
Once again Beverley, within a minute added another, this time by Joe Picketts, enabling them to turn round 35-0 up.
Pocklington continued to battle away to good effect up front but apart from full back Joe Holbrough they posed little threat behind the scrum.
Holbrough ran strongly but otherwise they did not possess enough cutting edge outside to trouble the Beverley defence.
Nonetheless four minutes into the second half centre Jake Bishop did get over for a try in the corner to get Pocklington on the scoresheet.
Beverley’s response was immediate. Lee Birch set off on a weaving run down the right touchline and put Smith over under the posts for his second try which took Beverley past the 40-point mark.
From Beverley’s point of view the performance of teenagers Stuart Nel in the second row and Smith at scrum half was hugely encouraging.
Both acquitted themselves well and Smith in particular had a splendid game, throwing out good passes and using the ball intelligently as well as producing one lovely run through the middle.
He fully deserved the generous applause afforded him when he made way for Mike Kilgannon late in the game.
A yellow card for Beverley prop Manu Kirkwood brought little relief for Pocklington although they continued to battle away bravely until the end.
Ten minutes from time Atiola rounded off the scoring with a seventh try for Beverley.
Duboulay with seven successful conversions out of seven, two of them fine kicks from the touchline, had a good day with the boot and his tackling was once again outstanding.
Beverley’s defending generally was sound throughout the whole game but some of Duboulay’s crunching tackles on forwards twice his size were enough to make you wince.
So Beverley continue to stretch ahead with ever widening clear water between them and second placed Wheatley Hills.
Next week they have another local derby at Malton and Norton which will no doubt be a tough fixture but they then follow this with two consecutive home games.
On their present form it is hard to see anyone catching them now.
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Weather for Beverley
Wednesday 19 June 2013
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 10 C to 17 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 11 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
