BURY ST EDMUNDS 21– BECCLES 8

Beccles went out of the EDF Energy Senior Cup despite a brave performance at Bury St Edmunds. A makeshift Beccles side gave their higher league opposition a scare before eventually going down by 21-8.
A number of the Beccles players were unavailable due to a trip to Cardiff to watch Wales. This added to a number of injuries to key players meant that Beccles were down to the bare bones of the Squad.
Bury are currently towards the top of London Division 3, the league above Beccles, so the Bulls knew they were in for a hard game. Beccles started the game the quicker and Bury struggled to cope with the tempo of the game. Beccles created chances the best of which came after a break from the halfway line by Rob Wilson. He was stopped just short of the line and the resulting drive to the line by the Beccles pack was held up over the line.
Bury began to come in to the game but the Beccles back three of Gedney, Hall and Anderson coped well when the talented Bury backs broke through the line. Bury were reduced to taking on a long range penalty to take the lead. They managed to add an unconverted try just before the half time whistle to make the half time score 8-0.
Beccles stepped up a gear in the second half. The pack was dominating with Danny Rix, Holtzer and Johnstone scrummaging well. Wilson and Maeer were winning lots of ball in the lineout thanks to some good throwing by stand in hooker Ling. Ling was made the Whitehorse Man of the Match.
Beccles opened the scoring in the second half with a Holm penalty after some good kicking by Hadridge and Payne kept Bury pinned in their 22. Bury replied with a penalty of their own but then Beccles really began to turn the screw. Some good running by Charlie Hall drove Beccles deep towards the Bury line where the Bulls won a penalty. The pack set up a driving maul and Rix powered over the line. Unfortunately the referee was unsighted and couldn’t award the try.
Beccles were still right on the Bury line and the pack kept driving at the Bury defence. They were held up twice more before Rix got the ball down again, this time in sight of the referee for a try. Holm missed the conversion leaving Beccles 3 points behind with ten minutes left.
Beccles tried to step up another gear but forwards were very tired after having to cross the Bury line four times to get the try. Beccles struggled to keep possession and Bury scored a converted try to extend their lead. They also added a penalty with the last kick of the game to give a final flattering score line of 21-8.
This was by far the best performance of the season by Beccles who have enjoyed this cup run, beating three London sides before being edged out by higher league opposition. They now need to take this form in to their next league match, at home to Canvey Island on Saturday (KO 2:30PM)




Keith Johnstone Beccles Press Officer