Belper 1st XV33pts Dronfield 1st XV 8pts
Belper Full-back Andy laven scored three tries
in this friendly fixture. Dronfield scored first with a try before Laven touched
down for the first time.
The Belper forwards, led by man of the match Mitch Town, were starting to win
plenty of possession and Laven went over again for a try which was converted
by Steve Dymond who also added a drop goal.
Scrum half Alister Teager made a break to set up a Mick
Laven try before Andy laven touched down once more.
Teager also went over for a try which was converted by Dymond
Belper 1st XV 33pts Dronfield 1st XV 8pts
As usual Belper were slow into their stride in
this friendly match against visitors Dronfield, who scored in the first try
of the match, when one of their flankers forced his way over in the corner.
Despite pressure from Belper the score stayed the same until a burst from Mike
French set up Andy Laven for a try in the corner.
The forwards led by man of the match Mitch Town, won a great deal of possession,
especially from rucks and from one of these the ball was moved down the line
quickly for Laven, who entered the line again and flew over for a try, converted
by Steve Dymond.
Just before the break, the visitors set up a drop goal position for the fly-half
who duly delivered with an accurate kick.
The second half was almost one way traffic, as Belper dominated most aspects
of the game.
Town, Chris Smith and Tim Yule won a lot of Line-out possession and the front
five led by Val Morrell, Alan Mayes and Mike Wild pushed the set scrums back,
often nearly ten meters. This gave young scrum half Alister Teager plenty of
opportunities to explore the space around the scrum and from an exciting break
by him, Mick Laven was quick in support and barged his way through for a well
deserved try, converted by Dymond.
Another break by Teager saw Dymond in possession, who put in a sublime chip
kick to put the marauding Andy laven in for his third try, in the corner, which
Dymond converted.
With Carl Chandler making a sound debut as flanker and skipper and no 8 Ed O'Dell
playing in the centre, Belper did well to dominate determined opponents.
Again the forwards caused problems, Mike Phelan set up a winning ruck and from
the pressure the ball ran free.
Teager reacted quickest and picked up the bouncing ball to fly over for a deserved
try which Dymond converted to seal an emphatic victory, which needs to be repeated
this week in the league at Sleaford.
Belper 2ndXV 7pts Long Eaton 2ndXV 21pts
The early start on International day obviously didn't suit the
Belper team who did not get into their stride in the first half. At half time
they trailed by two converted tries to nil and all seemed lost.
However skipper for the day Simon Cooke was determined that they would not go
down easily and with the pack beginning to win some good possession, Belper
forced themselves into the game.
Amongst the forwards Ian Davidson, Rick Bartrum, Warren Hayward, Craig Tennick
and Ian Yates worked hard to set up good attacking positions and soon had the
hard running Simon Cooke and fellow centre Anthony England were set up by Paul
Thomas and Mick Finn at half back.
Despite all this improvement the hosts added to their score before a stunning
run by Cooke saw him battle his way into the line for a try, converted by Birchett.
Belper worked hard and threatened to close the gap even further but were unable
to improve their own score.
Near the end winger Dave Taylor was taken to hospital with rib and shoulder
injuries, following a typical hard defensive tackle.