A grandstand finish and late try brought Beverley a welcome 21-15 victory at Stockport. On the overall balance of play they were probably a bit lucky, but there have been many occasions this season when they have played well and lost so this game was a bit of overdue justice.

Playing against a stiff diagonal wind they started poorly with some dreadful kicking.

They missed touch with three early penalties and a fourth dribbled in making only about five metres.

The early lineout work was also pretty untidy and not helped by some wayward throwing in.

Stockport started much the brighter and showed far more determination and they moved the ball about in their backs with a crispness Beverley could never manage.

Beverley's passing from the start was poor and it never really improved.

The number of times a try was there for the taking had the ball been quickly moved through the hands does not bear thinking about.

Once again it all came down to a midfield intent on route one tactics and crash balls.

When they move the ball about quickly they look an altogether different set of backs although the passing was so poor that there was probably little likelihood of the ball ever reaching the wings anyway.

Despite being largely overwhelmed Beverley somehow survived for half an hour before centre Greg Newton eventually forced his way over for a try which Tom Cruse converted.

It was no less than Stockport deserved and on the stroke of half-time Cruse added a penalty to give them a 10-0 lead at the interval.

Beverley looked anything but likely winners and two minutes into the second half Stockport looked to have wrapped it up altogether with another try.

Junior Tupai had made a nice break for Beverley to set up a clear overlap in the corner.

A try must have resulted had the ball been moved quickly out but somehow Stockport winger Mike Pearson came away with it and raced the length of the field to score a fine opportunist try at the other end.

Up to then it had all been pretty dour stuff with not much to get excited about.

Nonetheless with the advantage of the wind Beverley were now starting to enjoy much more territorial possession.

They lost Francis Picketing with an injury to be replaced by David Brant but the pack continued to steadily gain the upper hand.

Scott Cameron was having a barnstorming afternoon as were Mark Hatfield, Gareth Jackson and Gavin Gibson who all showed up well in the close exchanges.

With 20 minutes left Beverley still trailed by 15 points and realistically looked to be down and out.

But then as the pack for the umpteenth time inched its way towards the home line Gibson powered his way over for a relieving try which Jamie Gill converted.

Immediately Beverley seemed to sniff the chance of victory and their game rose to a new level.

With Jerry Barnes at full back having a good match both in defence and attack they were right back into it five minutes later when Jade Gardiner crossed for a second try with Gill adding the conversion.

A quarter of an hour left and suddenly at 15-14 it was all to play for.

Stockport's bolt had been shot and it was now all Beverley.

With five minutes remaining a rather aimless Beverley kick down the middle allowed Stockport to counter attack up to the Beverley 22 and it looked as though the home side would after all be able to close the game out by merely hanging on to possession.

But a couple of relieving penalties got Beverley back into enemy territory and in a thrilling finish with their pack pounding the home line Beverley snatched victory when Gibson went over for his second try. Gill's conversion was the last action of the match.