MACCLESFIELD 27 BEVERLEY 40
What a transformation! Beverley were unrecognisable from the
shambles of two weeks ago and fully deserved this comprehensive victory over a
lively Macclesfield side that never gave up.
Beverley’s pack was again masterful throughout with David Worrall leading
the way with an inspired performance.
But it was the backplay which was a total revelation. Suddenly Anthony Posa’s tactical kicking was
back at its best, the passing was slick, the running incisive, and the finishing
clinical. It was hard to believe that
this was the same backline which had played so poorly in previous games.
With the new-found freedom and fluency
Richard Henderson for the first time this season was able to use his power and thrust
to carve openings down the middle and he posed a constant threat all
afternoon. At the back Guy Hope was rock
solid, never looking likely to drop a high ball and using it well on the
counter. The support play and passing
out of the tackle was impressive throughout.
Beverley kicked off into the
sunshine and straightaway stormed into their opponents nearly scoring in the
second minute when Henderson
was stopped just short. The respite for
the home side was short-lived and within five minutes Jade Gardiner had rounded
off some slick passing to touch down for a try which Ian Archibald
converted. Worrall having made a
spectacular tackle near halfway then emerged with the ball and raced away for a
second try, Archibald again adding the conversion.
It was now all Beverley and they
stretched further ahead with a try by Anthony Spence in the corner when the
ball was moved quickly wide from a five metre scrum. Ross Winney kicked
two penalties to bring Macclesfield back to 6-19 but Beverley were not to be denied and Henderson added a fourth try with Archibald kicking
the conversion. In added time at the
interval a Macclesfield overlap down Beverley’s right let in their number eight
Ollie Hewitt for a home try which was superbly converted from the touchline by Winney.
26-13 ahead at halftime Beverley
quickly stretched clear again at the start of the
second half with a try by Aarin Yorke who kicked through and touched down
Archibald again converting. Despite the
scoreline it was not all one-way traffic and Macclesfield had plenty of
territorial possession as they continued to play with adventure and quick
movement among their backs. A long
crossfield move and winger Fergus Mulchrone was over
in the corner for a converted try to keep their hopes alive, but Beverley’s
response was immediate with Shaun Cross touching down for a sixth Beverley try
following a nice break by Henderson.
Macclesfield had contributed to
an entertaining and enjoyable game with their willingness to attack from
anywhere and it was all played in a good spirit. But they lacked Beverley’s incisiveness and
numerous chances went begging through poor passing. A penalty try at the death which Winney converted was no less than they deserved for their
wholehearted effort but in the end this was Beverley’s day.
They had played splendidly as a
team without a weak link showing anywhere.
Archibald’s kicking was outstanding with five successful kicks out of
six, the only miss being a conversion attempt from the touchline which dropped
just short. Beverley may look back with
some concern at again having conceded rather too many points but to have scored
forty points of their own and in such splendid fashion was indeed manna from
heaven and their turnaround in form was quite remarkable. After this the temptation must have been
great for the Beverley supporters to burst into strains of Swing Low Sweet Chariot . But mercifully they didn’t.
