Only one league point separated York and Beverley at the start of their match yesterday. Beverley had 30 points in 5th place, York 29 in 6th. Second place in the table at the end of the season is rewarded with a play-off match against the second place team in the Durham and Northumberland division. Top spot gains automatic promotion to North East division 1. Although it is early in the season and there will be many twists and turns, yesterday was an important game for both sides.

Beverley had a young side who favoured using their back-line as much as possible. They were ambitious, handled the ball well and fly-half Junior Tupai is their play-maker. He passed the ball well and was involved in nearly all of Beverley’s possession. York had a strong team. Chris Fox returned as captain in the second row after missing last week. Tom Newitt played at full-back, Neil McClure at fly-half. York are a balanced team, a forward pack that are hard-working and work together; a back-line that can score points, secure set-pieces and have a good, consistent goal-kicker.

It was a still November day. The air was damp and the pitch was soft after recent rain. It was cold, as it can be in November, but not too bad. York wore one-off jerseys, white and green, highlighted with shades of pink and blue. The jerseys were being auctioned after the match to raise funds for BLESMA, a charity that supports limbless military veterans. Coach Lee Denham organized the jerseys along with a charity lunch before the game. Beverley played in green and white. The auctioning of the York jerseys raised over £1,000.There was a minutes silence before the game to remember those who have lost their lives in war.

It is the first time that York and Beverley have played each other in several years. Both teams were looking to settle. There were handling errors and the two teams were each penalised for infringements. George Davies missed a penalty for York. At one point, York set up a rolling maul from a line-out and advanced the ball fifteen metres. Perhaps as a result of the previous maul, when York had a line-out ten metres from the Beverley line, the ball was quickly transferred to Marc Benson at the back of the line-out who was able to run in and score. George Davies converted, after fifteen minutes it was 7-0 to York.
Beverley re-started the game. The ball was passed to Tom Newitt who found some space on the wing. Hugh Nicholson was in support but Tom cut inside and scored beside the posts. Davies converted, 14-0.Lewis Hannibal was working hard and carrying the ball securely. Russ Bowers, in at hooker was also doing well. The York line-out was secure. Beverley had a series of penalties, one of them for a high-tackle. After twenty minutes, the referee spoke to Chris Fox about the team’s discipline. Rob Smith (the Beverley full-back and goal-kicker) kicked one of the penalties to make it 14-3.

York winger, Hugh Nicholson, made two good tackles showing good technique as Beverley attacked. The match was settling and it was a good game to watch. Beverley came in to the match both in attack and defence. Junior Tupai was passing the ball accurately off both his right and left hand. The referee was communicating well and was calm. York gained a penalty after a scrum. Davies kicked the penalty from thirty metres out with an excellent connection on the ball, 17-3 to York. York outside-centre Sam Forbes, on his full debut, got his first touches of the ball, which were positive. Eric Hall was shown a yellow card for an intentional knock on close to half time. Beverley attacked but were repelled. Chris Fox was then shown a yellow card for a high tackle but Beverley didn’t score before half-time despite sustained attack. Just before half-time, Beverley had been awarded a penalty and some of the Beverley supporters felt that they should have taken a scrum as York were two forwards down.

Sam Potrykus started the second-half as York captain. Barney Carter scored for Beverley after an over-thrown line-out with Rob Smith kicking the conversion, York 17 Beverley 10. Eric Hall returned to the field. Tom Newitt made a try-saving tackle as Beverley 14, Luke Hazell, had some open space to run in to the try-line. Chris Fox came back on. Jack Gavin scored for Beverley ten minutes in to the second-half following good handling between him and Rob Smith. The conversion was good - game tied for the moment, 17-17.Sam Potrykus was defending well. Beverley continued to attack. Even from their own twenty-two, they were looking for space to kick rather than kicking to touch. Each time they did though, Tom Newitt returned the ball well.

There was perhaps, a decisive moment in the game. Chris Fox was penalised for an illegal tackle, the referee spoke to him and some were worried that a second yellow card would precede a red. The referee only awarded a penalty to Beverley though. Beverley had their own chances. They had a kickable penalty forty metres out, tapped it and knocked-on. Junior Tupai was also adjudged to have passed the ball forward on another occasion.The final twenty minutes of the game saw several tries scored.

First, Shane Goulding carried well from a steady York scrum; the ball was recycled to Tom Newitt in space and Luke Hazel just held on to him to prevent a try. Goulding again went forward with the ball. He nearly scored himself but was able to off-load the ball to Neil McClure who was in support. McClure scored and Davies again converted, York 24 Beverley 17.As York attacked again, Newitt was in the back-line attacking from second-receiver. He was elusive, found space and ran through a gap in Beverley’s defence to score. Davies converted, York 31 Beverley 17. Junior Tupai was ‘mouthing off’ to the referee as Beverley prepared to re-start the game. He was shown a yellow card and York received a penalty. Sam Forbes attacked and Lewis Hannibal scored against a dispirited Beverley defence. Davies missed the conversion, York 36 Beverley 17. Chris Fox offloaded the ball to Shane Goulding who again was able to break the defensive line. Space was created and Josh Parker ran in from the 22 to score under the posts. Davies converted, York 43 Beverley 17.

Luke Hazel scored for Beverley in the corner. The conversion was quickly taken (a drop-kick) as the Beverley kicking-tee didn’t come on to the pitch. The conversion was missed, 43-22. Sam Forbes made a good defensive tackle for York as Beverley attacked. There were only five minutes remaining and the game was now very loose. Will Atkin scored in the corner after a steady York scrum and Davies converted yet again, York 50 Beverley 22. Davies and Goulding attacked again for York but the final try of the game went to Beverley winger Jacob Holmes. The conversion was kicked, leaving the final score York 50 Beverley 29.

York are now fifth in the table, two points off second place, Beverley are sixth.
Team - Hartley,Bowers,Norris,Fox,Benson,Hall E,Hannibal,Goulding,Hargreaves,McClure,Nicholson H,Potrykus S,Forbes,Davies,Newitt. Subs - Parker,Starkey,Atkin W
Match photos -
http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/yorkrufc/photos/york-rufc-v-beverley-rufc-12th-november-2016-706311.html