MORLEY 41 BEVERLEY 13

Beverley’s long impressive run came to a disappointing end at Scatcherd Lane. They could have no complaints. They looked unusually subdued and were well beaten by a good Morley side. Without the influential Junior Tupai and Jade Gardiner there was a distinctly makeshift look to the Beverley line-up behind the scrum. And so it proved, with Tupai’s guile being badly missed in attack and frailties in defence badly exposed down their right flank.

Within three minutes Morley were ahead when winger Simon Bradshaw left Kristian Snelling for dead and raced in at the corner for an opening try which he converted himself. Phil Duboulay fairly soon reduced the arrears with a penalty but Bradshaw responded almost immediately with one for Morley to maintain their seven point advantage. Beverley in these early stages were getting a good share of the ball as well as plenty of territorial advantage but were unable to conjure up the slickness of movement and cutting edge that the home backs enjoyed.

After 25 minutes a long Morley cross kick in the Beverley 22 found no-one at home and centre Liam Frost had merely to stroll in for a second try which Bradshaw converted to take it to 17-3. Beverley by now were finding it hard going and looked strangely disjointed. The normally elusive Richard Bussey and Goran Jelencic in the centre could find no way through even though plenty of possession was coming their way. How Beverley missed the inspiration of Tupai! A second Duboulay penalty shortly before halftime did ease things slightly and when they turned round 17-6 down all hope was by no means lost.

But five minutes into the second half it was all as good as over when Mark Chester crossed for a converted try following a Morley lineout and drive to the line. Leading 24-6 Morley after that played with increasing abandon as wave after wave of attacks bore down on the Beverley line. Beverley tackled with plenty of spirit but Morley skipper Craig Field and Frost both added tries when the defence was too easily opened up down the Beverley right. Beverley did not help themselves by repeatedly kicking long and aimlessly straight to the lively home backs who merely ran back at them. Beverley’s kicking in general left a lot to be desired – too much of it and mostly too wayward.

With the game going into its final quarter Beverley increased their tempo. Skipper David Worrall had fought heroically all afternoon to raise the Beverley game and it was he who made his side’s only clean break of the match when he went on a thrilling forty metre run only to be denied inches from the line. But from the ensuing ruck Gavin Gibson forced his way over for a try which Duboulay converted. Thereafter Beverley played some decent rugby without being able to make much headway. Gibson again had a good day up front along with Matthew Adams, and Mark Hatfield added more punch when he came on at tight head. Mike Kilgannon with some useful sniping around the scrum occasionally threatened but tended to overdo it late on. Beverley’s most dangerous looking back was Tony Riby-French, pressed into service on the wing, who produced plenty of thrust with the limited ball he received.

Despite raising their game in the later stages Beverley seldom looked like adding to their score and with five minutes remaining fly half Chester waltzed round two tackles to add a final Morley try which Bradshaw converted. On the whole it was not a memorable day for Beverley but they did at least have the consolation of knowing that they had been beaten by a very good side who have not remained in the top two all season for nothing.