Belper 1st XV36pts Sleaford 1st XV 13pts
Belper gained revenge for last weeks league defeat
by Sleaford with this convincing win in the NLD Shield quarterfinals.
The home side outscored there visitors by five tries to one.
Rob Parker opened the scoring with a try after good work by Ed O'Dell and Mike
Laven, Mike French kicking the conversion.
Merv Holmes burst through for Belpers second try before both the home sides
wingers touched down. First, Anthony England went over and then Simon Teager
scored as well.
Man of the match John French continued to feed his backs and Belper extended
their advantage when Mike French kicked a penalty.
Ed Tomlinson, on as a replacement for injured centre Craig Tennick, scored Belper's
final try, which French converted.
Belper 1st XV36pts Sleaford 1st XV 13pts
Having narrowly lost to the same opponents in
the league last week, Belper were given the opportunity to reap an immediate
revenge, being drawn against Sleaford in the Cup, and take revenge they certainly
did.
They outscored the visitors by five tries to one and thoroughly deserved this
handsome victory despite being shorn of a number of their first choice players,
due mainly to the school holidays.
With Val Morrell in storming form taking an early scrum against the head, skipper
Ed O'Dell picked up and close inter-passing saw Mick laven feed Rob Parker for
an excellent try.
Mike French converted and continued to cause the opposition problems all afternoon,
partly with his licking and also with his strong running and tackiling in the
centre.
The back row were a formidable force all afternoon, and soon it was the turn
of Merv Holmes to burst through for the second try.
Belpers supremacy then began to allow the ball to be thrown out wide and the
wingers both got themselves on the scoresheet, firstly youngster Anthony England
and then the wily veteran Simon Teager.
man of the match Jon French continued to feed the backs and the game swung further
Belpers way with a penalty kicked by Mike French, before replacement Ed Tomlinson,
on in the centre following an injury to Craig Tennick, scored the final try,
converted like three of the others by Mike French to record an emphatic victory
- if only Belper had played like this the previous week they could be well placed
in the league as well.
This weeks home league match is now eagerly anticipated.