This weekend Beverley face the first of four trips to Cumbria with an away tie against rejuvenated Millom in the Impact Performance National Conference League Three.
"The one thing you've got to factor in is the travel, it's a hell of a long way from the east coast of Yorkshire all the way to Cumbria." Joe Morley, one of four men that make up the coaching team at the East Riding club said.
"We'll set off just before eight in the morning and we won't get back until gone ten o'clock in the evening, so it's a long day for an 80-minute game of rugby."
"More than ever this season we are going to need a fully dedicated and committed team because we've got four trips to Cumbria and they're games which we can't just brush off. If we want to get promotion and we want to get back to Division 2, where we want to be, we're going to have to play up in Cumbria with our strongest team and hopefully go there and get the two points. These are the games that make or break a season."
Bentley have made a solid start to the new season with home wins over Bentley and last week against Leigh East while Drighlington won a high-scoring clash at the Battlefields.
So far this term, several players have garnered praise with two sets of brothers leading the way. The Howdles, Jack, and Bobby have been catching the eye in the pack, while Josh and Lewis Poskitt have been firing the backline.
Joe said, "Lewis Poskitt is our general, he's our scrum half. He's got a great kicking game, is a really good organiser and he just gets us around the pitch, a great leader. While Josh, he's moved to full-back this year, and he looks like he's played there all his life, honestly he's just a natural, a really good organiser from the back for our defence. He makes sure he gets our numbers right, and makes sure our line speed is good, but in attack, he's a threat, he's got pace, he's strong and one more thing to mention is he's a good goal kicker."
Goal kicking was especially crucial in a 16-0 win over Leigh East.
"The pitch was like a quagmire, honestly, the rain had got in and it was just a mud pit. Every point counted on Saturday and luckily Josh Poskitt was accurate with his goal-kicking. I think two points was worth eight points really on Saturday, it was that tough of a test."
Of the Howdle brothers, Joe continued, "Bobby Howdle was man-of-the-match last week. He's an outstanding player is Bobby - so strong, he's very hard to put down, he's aggressive, he's everything you want in the middle and he's got a bit of pace.
"Jack, his older brother is Mr. Beverley, and the commitment he shows for our team, it's brilliant. I can't speak highly enough for Jack to be honest, he's outstanding and will probably go down as one of the best players Beverley's ever had."
Last week, Millom, who are using each home game this year to mark a part of their illustrious history, came up against Ellenborough Rangers, who themselves have made a great start to life in the National Conference League, and won through by 26-18.
They scored tries through Niall Harris, Adam Kelly, Jonathon Hodgson and Astin Mossop with Lee Posslethwaite kicking five goals.
The game kicks off at 2:30 pm on Coronation Field and forms part of an excellent programme this week.
Here are all other National Conference League fixtures taking place this weekend:
Saturday 1st April
Premier Division
- Kells v York Acorn
- Leigh Miners Rangers v Hull Dockers
- Thatto Heath Crusaders v Siddal
- Wath Brow Hornets v West Hull
Division One
- Crosfields v Egremont Rangers
- Featherstone Lions v Ince Rose Bridge
- Heworth v Clock Face Miners
- Pilkington Recs v Thornhill Trojans
- Stanningley v Skirlaugh
- West Bowling v Oulton Raiders
Division Two
- Woolston Rovers v Myton Warriors
- Wigan St Judes v Dewsbury Celtic
- Barrow Island v Normanton Knights
- East Leeds v Waterhead Warriors
- Milford v Dewsbury Moor Maroons
- Shaw Cross Sharks v Saddleworth Rangers
Division Three
- Bentley v Oldham St Annes
- Ellenborough Rangers v Eastmoor Dragons
- Leigh East v Hensingham
- Millom v Beverley
- Seaton Rangers v Drighlington
Best of luck to NCL sides Rochdale Mayfield (H) v Newcastle Thunder and Hunslet ARLFC (A) v Batley Bulldogs in Round Four of the Betfred Challenge Cup.
By Dave Parkinson
