Belper 2nd XV 36ptsEast Leake 2rd XV 0pts
Skipper Geoff Hornby has faced the difficulties of producing
a team each week to play in this higher league, following promotion last year,
with great enthusiasm.
Before this game they had been beaten in each match, although often playing
well and not getting the rub of the green.
In this game, everything came together at once, as they scored six times without
reply.
The back row of Tony Issett, Martyn Robinson and vice captain Mike Phelan, back
from his spell in the 1st XV, backed by skipper Geoff Hornby, a terrier like
scrum half stopped the hosts wherever they attacked from, and set up numerous
positions from which Belper were able to attack.
This allowed the front five of Ian Yates, man of the match Craig Tennick, Ian
Davidson, Sean Thompson and Rick Bartram to storm through and set up numerous
tries.
Thompson, with a powerhouse charge for the line and Tennick with a subtle change
of direction both scored tries, whilst the amount of ball they won allowed the
backs to run in four more tries.
Two were from the ever improving Andy Birchett on the wing, whilst centres Anthony
England and the powerful Mike Beavis - both crashed through for excellent tries.
The whole team put in a tremendous performance, making this the first league
win all the more sweet as they maintained great discipline in defence to keep
their opponents from scoring any points in what turned out to be a totally one-sided
match.