Match reports for Saturday 2nd October 1999
Taken from the Belper News 06/10/99

Belper 1st XV 17pts Bakewell 1st XV 3pts

Belper emerged victorious from a scrappy game after a good all-round team performance saw them to a vital win.
Playing up the slope Belper quickly began to dominate and dictate play.
They forced Bakewell back and eventually , relentless pressure saw the visitors concede a penalty which Jon French converted.
The forwards - with Alan Mayes to the fore - had a big influence on the game and provided the backs with ample possession.
However they were unable to force the issue until Andy Laven suddenly found himself with a metre of space and his searing pace took him clear to score in the corner.
A superb conversion kick from Jon French took the half time score to 10 - 0.
In the second half Belper too often made wrong decisions or mistakes at crucial moments whilst the local derby atmosphere came through in a series of penalties conceded by both sides.
In the face of some spirited attacking from the visitors, Belper's defense refused to allow Bakewell to cross the line.
All the second half scoring came from penalties. First Bakewell kicked three points for a home side infringement and then the visitors conceded another penalty and quick thinking by tenacious scrumhalf Eddie Tomlinson fed Andy Laven in space and he galloped through to score under the posts. French added the final two points.

Belper 2nd XV 7pts Derby 3rd XV 10pts

Belper worked hard to produce the right result in this closely contested game.
Captain Geoff Hornby inspired the team to work hard and with some excellent scrummaging they provided some good possession for the backs to run at Derby.
Using this, man of the match Rob Lea was everywhere and it was fitting that he eventually scored the first points of the game with a fine try, converted by the increasingly confident Andy Birchett.
Belper defended stoutly to maintain this lead to half time.
In the second half Derby eventually crossed the Belper line and also converted a penalty to gain a narrow victory.
Flanker Anthony England had an impressive debut in the centre.

Belper 3rd XV 27pts Bakewell 2nd XV 12pts

Belper fielded a strong side to take over the fixture from their own second team and recorded a handsome victory.
With Bakewell unable to field props against the formidable front row of Belper, the game had uncontested scrums, which allowed Belpers pack to move about the field much more than usual with all their extra energy available.
The wily skills of Mick Finn, Nigel Gell and Roger Morgan set up good ball for the youngsters outside and winger Craig Culshaw roared in for two tries.
With hooker Kenny Melluish winning good ball in the loose and Ross Moore and John Rooney also causing chaos, the points soon added up.
Following intense pressure John Rooney proved unstoppable from inside the 22 and then from a line out near the line the forward pressure set up Simon Blount to bulldoze his way over from nearly as far out.
Morgan then put his marathon fitness to use by winning a long kick and chase and converted himself.
A fine win played in a tremendous spirit and a reflection on how the depth of Belper's squad is ever-increasing.