Match reports for Saturday 8th
January 2000
Taken from the Derby Evening Telegraph 11/01/00
Belper 1st XV 50pts Loughborough 2nd XV 0pts
Belper began their 25th anniversary year with a superb win
at Loughborough in this friendly.
Captain Ed O'Dell was outstanding in the back row and scored a hat-trick of tries, while
there were two tries each for Jason Cotton and Andy Laven.
Steve Dymond was successful with six of his seven conversion attempts and added a penalty.
Match reports for Saturday 8th
January 2000
Taken from the Belper News 12/01/00
Belper 1st XV 50pts Loughborough 2nd XV 0pts
This was a great all-round team performance which saw
everyone play well and have a good run-out before returning to the league fixtures.
Jon French at scrum-half spun the ball out quickly to release the backs, for whom brother
Mike was a tower of strength, whilst elusive running saw partner Jason Cotton flash in for
two tries.
Simon Cooke also caused havoc and Andy Laven from full-back utalised his speed to cross
over for another two tries.
With Val Morrell taking three scrums against the head, supported by props Alan Mayes and
Darren Butler, the pack also had plenty of possession with which to work and captain and
man of the match, Ed O'Dell scored a hat-trick from the back row.
With Steve Dymond fully fit again after his early season injury, he weighed in with a long
range penalty and six out of seven conversions, and the team look ready to attack the
second half of the season as they attempt to continue their relentless march up the league
table.
Belper 2nd XV 31 Derby 3rd XV 3pts
Belper convincingly won this encounter after two previous
encounters had finished with only five points between the two sides.
Captain Geoff Hornby supervised the victory with adroit use of tactics, using the power of
a very strong pack top punch many holes in the visiting defence.
So strong were the forwards that they scored three of the tries themselves, led by prop
Mike Wild, second row forward Mitch Town and no. 8 Rob Parker, who all crossed the line in
the first half as Belper forced Derby to spend virtually the whole game in defence, only
able to break out on a few occasions and rarely threatening the Belper try line.
Indeed they only managed to score three points from one penalty kick.
All this possession was thrown out to the backs with man of the match Anthony England
always gaining a great deal of ground with powerful, surging runs in the centre the team
were able to seal a famous victory.
Fellow centre Alex Hornby was the first to gain from England's power, scorching over from
wide out and then winger John Tatham, always alert to a chance, fed of another surge by
England charged over for the final try.
An emphatic victory was rounded off with three conversions from Andy Birchett.
Belper 3rd XV 23pts Amber Valley 3rd XV 19pts
This was a close game which Belper won because they wanted
the victory more than the visitors and had the man of the match Mick Finn who scored 18 of
the teams points himself.
First Finn kicked two penalties and then he converted the try scored by mercurial fly half
Nigel Gell, who scored from a well won ruck just inside the 22.
Gell sold two outrageous dummies on his way to the line and then burst a tackle on the
line.
With Shaun Thompson leading the pack in fine style and Stan Tomlinson having an
outstanding match despite being moved about into various positions due to injuries to
others, the team always looked likely to win, although Amber Valley continued to plug away
and stay in touch.
Finally, scrum-half Finn showed his guile, speed of thought and fitness to steal over from
close in for the winning try which he converted himself.