Belper 1st XV24pts Nottinghamians 1st XV 3pts
Simon Teager got Belper moving in this NLD One
match with the opening try.
Skipper Ed O'Dell launched an attack from the back row and Mick Laven fed Teager,
who sold an outrages dummy before going over in the corner.
Nottinghamians hit back with a penalty to make the half-time score 5-3 but after
the interval the home side had no answer to Belper's forward power.
Most of the Belper pack were involved in the move thet led to Merv Holmes's
try, which Steve Dymond converted.
Winger Chris Burton also touched down for Belper before fullback Andy Laven
scored Belper's fourth try, converted by Steve Dymond, to complete the scoring.
Belper 1st XV24pts Nottinghamians 1st XV 3pts
NEEDING to win all their remaining league games, Belper battled hard in the first half to hold the hosts and, despite giving awaY a number of penalties, always held the upper hand. A typical back row thrust from skip-per Ed O'Dell, man of the match Merv Holmes and the bullocking run from Mick Laven, saw Belper punch a hole in the home defence and the ball 'eached Simon Teager, who sold an outrageous dummy and then flew over in the corner to put Belper five points up. The hosts pulled this back with one successful penalty to leave Belper leading 5-3 at half time. In the second half Belper really got their game together and scored three more tries, whilst the home team were unable to break down the Belper defence and could not add to their score. The back row continued to hunt as a trio, with Mick Laven using powe", skipper O'Dell's determination and skill along with Holmes' speed, skill and outstanding fitness, smothered Notts attacks and set up attack after attack for the rampant Belper side. Prop Mike Wild, backed up by sec-ond row of Mitch Town and Mike Phe-lan, also caused chaos in the home defence, and a breai~ by hooker Val Morrell saw Merv Holmes score a try involving most of the pack before Holmes' speed saw him brush through the remaining cover for a superb try; converted by Steve Dymond. Then a break by prop Alan Mayes saw the back row support produce sec-ond phase bail which was converted into a try by winger Chris Burton. Finally brotherly intuition saw the back row again create the chance and full back Andy Laven was on hand to take the ball from brother Mick to score the final try, converted by Dymond.
Belper 2nd XV25pts Amber Valley 3rd XV 7pts
THIS was a good victory for the 2nd XV following last weeks first league win, although Belper never really got going properly and were badly disrupted with two players - Pete Foulk and Mike Beavis - being taken to hospital, necessitating a number of changes during the game. The forwards worked hard and were responsible for two of the three tries scored. Belper took an early lead when Andy Birchett converted a penalty and then when Belper scored with a bulldozing run from prop Darren Butler, following a lineout, he converted to give Belper a 10-0 half time lead Playing against the wind but down the slope in the second half it was nearly all one-way traffic, but Amber Valley did well to frustrate the home side and the injury induced changes meant that chances went begging for Belper. Tony Issett and fellow flanker, man of the match Martyn Robinson, were everywhere for Belper, and snuffed out Valley attacks and made many holes in their defence. Indeed, Beavis was injured when stopped just short of the line, and Ed Tomlinson and Robinson, as well as the powerful Butler, all came close to scoring before quick ball set up Alex Skivington - the young player of the year last season who was returning for his first game after four months out with injury. Skivington then really got his second wind and made a number of strong runs. Finally, Andy Birchett scored a try which he converted himself before the visitors were awarded a penalty try for alleged obstruction, although the ball went straight out of play.
Belper 3nd XV15pts Ripley 1stXV 36pts
A VERY poor game, which Ripley won thanks to a hat-trick of tries from their inspirational captain Dave Trubee. The game saw the return of man of the match Steve Johnson to Belper rugby after eight years, and Roger Morgan, out with injury for five months, weighed in with a successful penalty and conversion of the first try scored by the redoubtable Brent Lyon. With Phil Gratton out of retirement at hooker winning five strikes against the head, due in no little amount to the powerful propping of Phil Robinson, Belper were able to score another try using the speed of Leon Edwards.