Hancock delighted by positive start to season

Beverley RUFC head coach Craig Hancock is hoping that a positive start to the 2022-23 campaign can be a platform for a promotion push.

The Beavers won the opening three matches of their Counties 1 Yorkshire campaign, but have been pegged back with two consecutive defeats.

Scoring points is not an issue for Hancock’s squad but they will need to find consistency if they are to challenge the leading pack – starting with a derby against Hullensians in their next match.

He told Beverley Life: “At the start of the season, if I had been offered the chance of three wins out of four, I would’ve snapped your hand off.

“Looking at our fixture list, it was no doubt a tough start.

“Two away games to start, against newly-promoted Wetherby and strong opposition on their own patch, Bradford Salem.

“Both tough games that we ground out, but never really fired on all cylinders. Both games were pleasing in the sense that we won ugly and did it the hard way – which we wouldn’t have won last season.

“Playing against a usually strong Dinnington team in our first home game showed the supporters just how good we can be – fast, free-flowing rugby at its best.

“Although, the team that Dinnington fielded was much depleted, that is something that we know all about after our struggles last season in fielding a team.

“Our final game of September was a local derby away at Goole, somewhat of a bogey team for us in recent years.

“Despite knowing that they were a very well-drilled team, maybe we didn’t turn up for this one mentally, and we were still living off the back of the previous week.

“It was a frustrating game. When you score 80 points in a game, everyone has a target on your head, so we need to prepare better mentally for each game if we have aspirations of promotion.

“Saturday’s game against Huddersfield Laund Hill provided us with our second home game of the season on a pitch that was absolutely immaculate.

“ We needed a reaction after the Goole game, but unfortunately it wasn’t to be. We got off to the worst possible start and our silly errors littered the game. Close, but no cigar.

“We now have chance to refocus, with no game on October 8th and return to action on the 15th against Hullensians.

“Will this game be a defining point in our season? You bet!”

Changes in the club culture, as well as performances on the pitch, have also given Hancock grounds for optimism.

He said: “Aside from the three wins, the fact that we now have a thriving second team is something that I have been incredibly pleased about.

“And for them to win their first two games is a great achievement.

“After our struggles fielding a first team last season, to now have a competitive second team is testament to the club as a whole, but special mentions go to Phil DuBoulay, Andy Franklin and Steve Girking for their help to get the seconds set up and ongoing management.

“Having a competitive second team gives a nice problem of selection headaches. Long may that continue.”