New Brighton disappoint

Team Sheet:1. Mark Dorrington, 2. Phil Buckley, 3. Tony Probert, 4. Steve Fox, 5.Paul Cambell, 6. Jon Harris, 7. Andy Moore, 8. Kati Tui'pulotu, 9. Ali Child, 10. Ian Kennedy, 11. Alan Hesketh, 12.Dan Naylor, 13. Gareth Simpson, 14. Lee Brogan, 15.Ian Murray
Substitutes:16. Sion Williams, 17. Jez Lamb, 18. Colin Jones

Report by Wyn Williams
Pictures by Phil BrosterFor More Pics Click Here

After last week’s dramatic first win of the season against previously unbeaten Kendal, New Brighton were optimistic and eager for more success for their first ever game against Beverley from the East Riding of Yorkshire. Unfortunately, this was not to be. Coach Steve Dorrington was bitterly disappointed with the result and angry at the dismal performance by the New Brighton team. The tackling, so effective against Kendal, was well below standard. Many promising Blues’ attacks were let down by poor handling. The visiting side were a competent outfit and will do well in North 1 but their marauding back row are unlikely to enjoy the freedom of the Park in future matches as they did at Hartsfield.

On the bright side, the scrummage was good, the Beverley tight head had a torrid time against Mark Dorrington, playing his 499^th first team game for New Brighton. The lineouts were competent but nevertheless well below the dizzy heights of last week. In the backs, Kennedy showed occasional glimpses of his class, Naylor’s sinuous running was the most likely source for New Brighton to trouble the scorer and man-of-the-match Murray was solid under the high ball.

The Blues started well enough and Naylor miscued his attempt at a penalty from 40m inside 3 minutes. A kick ahead and a fortunate bounce seemed likely to produce the first score but Naylor just failed to gather a tricky ball with the line at his mercy. A good burst by Kati lacked credible support and the penalty awarded was inevitable. Full back Kilgannon kicked a good goal from 40m, putting the visitors ahead 0 – 3 after 12 minutes. A good break by Naylor ended disappointingly with a turnover ball A Beverley attack seemed to be halted by an excellent catch by Hesketh 10m from his own line but the resultant clearance kick was charged down to give Couzzo the simplest of touchdowns which Kilgannon converted from wide out to give Beverley a flattering 0 – 10 lead after 25 minutes.

Heads dropped further five minutes later when a Murray clearance kick was caught just inside his own half by the impressive openside flanker Worrall, who just evaded Murray’s follow up tackle and then left several more Blues’ players in his wake as he made the 60m to the posts, leaving an easy kick for Kilgannon to make the score an unlikely 0 – 17.

Just before the interval Beverley’s South African second row Badenhorst, transferred this season across the Pennines from Broughton Park, emerged from a maul on a diagonal run, leaving many weak tackles in his wake before giving a lovely inside pass to winger Couzzo who burst through two more poor tackles before running 40m to cross near the posts. An easy conversion for Kilgannon gave the visitors an unassailable lead at half time. From a defensive point of view, three tries had been gifted to the visiting side.

Half Time Score: New Brighton 0 - 24 Beverley

New Brighton, who had substituted Simpson with Williams at half time, started the second half brightly and an impressive move from inside their own 22 created an overlap for Hesketh who draw the full back and gave the supporting Fox a 30m dash to the line. Unfortunately, the referee had spotted that the final pass was at least 7 metres forward. Hesketh badly damaged a hamstring in the process and was replaced by Lamb at blindside with Moore taking the left wing berth. A poor clearance kick by the blues was gathered by the visiting scrum half, Infield, who set up a repeat of the Badenhorst/Couzzo act for the winger to complete his hatrick. An easy conversion took the score to an improbable 0 – 31 after 48 mins. Two minutes later Moore was yellow-carded for hanging onto the ball. From a scrum on his own 22, Kati made good ground but a dropped pass was seized by the opposition and more weak tackling allowed Infield to score by the posts. After 60 minutes, the conversion increased the lead to 0 – 38.

In the final 20 minutes, the match became very scrappy and descended into farce. Referee Andy Daniels who had officiated competently up to that point, now saw red and yellow with regularity. Lamb was shown a yellow card after 62 minutes for offside and Fox given a straight red for allegedly punching an opponent. Then it was Beverley’s turn to suffer as hooker Cross and the powerful No. 8 McKay were given yellow cards. New Brighton finished well but several promising moves, including a powerful burst by Campbell, just failed to breach the Beverley defence.

Full Time Score: New Brighton 0 - 38 Beverley

Next Week: 21^st October, 1st XV Away
Penrith

Next Home 1st XV Game Saturday 4^th November
Stockport
Kick off 3.00 pm
Past Players Reunion lunch 12:30 pm