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October 24 2009 - Beverley A 0 Hull Ionians Hawks 43

Moorhouse, Rawson, Whittam, Waddy, Stephenson, Potts, Barrass, Pearson, Rice, Thundercliffe, Carew, Beech, Skymre, Liddle, Cusack.

The Hawks put less effort into this game than I put into sunbathing on a recent holiday on the Algarve. Obviously this isn’t true (the effort not the vacation) but it’s too good a line to waste and it seems unlikely that I will be able to use it if performances continue as they have over the last couple of weeks. It was a blank week in the fixture list and thanks go to Beverley for accepting the invitation for a game that allowed several of the Hawks side to “get some game time under their belts” after inactivity due to injury or benching.
The Hawks hit their straps from the kick-off, the forwards collected the ball and repeatedly drove up the field replicating work done during many hard training sessions and it paid dividends within 5 minutes when having got into the opposition 22 the pack released the ball which was smartly moved to the centres and Danny Waddy cantered in for an easy try. In the absence of his kicking tee Pottsy missed a routine conversion. The Hawks failed to extend their lead for a further 20 minutes. They conceded too many penalties and didn’t take into consideration the conditions or the determination of the opposition and despite dominating all phases of the game over ambitious passes failed to find obliging hands.
James Liddle finally extended the lead, the hard working back row bursting through from the base of a ruck and powering over under the posts, John Potts adding the conversion. Despite battling hard Beverley were now entirely committed to defence, tackling relentlessly and repelling the close driving play of the Hawks pack, particularly No 8 Cusack and second row Martin Carew. When Beverley did get their hands on the ball they kicked it into the hands of the Ionians backs who ran it straight back at them. The forwards won the ruck and drove up the touchline, Prop Albert Thundercliffe got the ball in his hands and showing all the deft skills expected of a front row player barrelled his way over to score. The conversion was missed so the half ended with the Hawks holding a comfortable lead, 17 – 0.
The rain, which had been intermittent during the first half, increased in intensity at the beginning of the second half. Handling became difficult but one slick move created room for winger Ben Rawson to break clear and score in the corner. The game was now played exclusively in the Beverley half, with the experienced Mike Cawthorn, who had replaced injured John Potts, controlling the game from fly half. Gary Stephenson increased the lead when he kicked through and won the race to ground the ball giving Andy Barrass an easy conversion. The forwards maintained their pressure on the tiring Beverley pack and after a series of short range drives released the ball to Corky who popped an adroit pass to hooker Rice to walk in under the posts, goaled again by Barrass. The final score of the match really rubbed salt into Beverley’s wounds. On one of the rare occasions that they attempted to run the ball from defence  an errant pass fell into Gary Stephenson’s hands and he ambled over to complete his brace, Andy Barrass doing the necessary. This proved too much for the Beverley’s scrum half who despite cajoling, berating and blaspheming his team all afternoon lost his discipline and was invited by the referee to cool down on the touchline for the final minutes of the match.
This was a good team effort from the Hawks. Enthusiasm shone in the early stages, fitness told in the latter stages and experience showed throughout. Chris Cusack in particular revelled in the opportunity to play 80 minutes rugby and all the returning players proved they will be pushing for a 1^st team place in the coming weeks.
P.S. Stu Towns who played in the back row last week showed his versatility by coming on as a replacement for winger Ben Rawson, which goes to show 1/ You can teach an old dog new tricks 2/ You can’t keep a good dog down!
Next week we are again in the pool so fetch your trunks.