Match reports for Saturday 20th November 1999
Taken from the Belper News 24/11/99

Belper 1^st XV 21pts Dronfield 1st XV 0pts

Following last weeks inept display Belper got their show back on the rails with a sparkling win at Dronfield. Hard won ball was quickly moved wide to constantly examine the width of the home defence, which proved inadequate on numerous occasions, three of which proved vital.
The whole pack, including newcomer Shaun Thompson at prop, moved as a unit and provided scrum-half Jon French with plenty of ball to feed the eager backs.
Thompson and fellow prop Mike Wild linked with Mitch Town and Mike Phelan to cause chaos in the home defence and Steve Dymond whipped the ball out to Simon Cooke to score the opening try, converted by Dymond.
In the second half, playing against the wind, Belper continued to outplay the home team, with the back row of Mike Laven, Merv Holmes and Skipper Ed O'Dell getting to every breakdown first to recycle the ball to outstanding scrum-half Jon French, who set the backs free with quick clean ball.
With full-back Andy Laven frequently bursting into the line, Belper took increasing control of the game.
Slick handling set centre. Simon Cooke up for a second bustling try, and then winger Jason Cotton, given a little space, glided through the remainder of the home defence to score a well deserved third try.
With Dymond kicking both conversions, returning to near full fitness after a long absence due to pre-season injury, Belper ran out easy winners.

Belper 2nd XV 0pts Dronfield 2nd XV 17

A much closer game than the score suggests, with the visitors scoring two converted tries and a half dropped goal, despite 70 percent of the game being played in the Dronfield half of the pitch.
Belper won their fair share of the possession in the first half, with the back row of Rob Lea, Geoff Hornby and man of the match Martin Robinson winning a lot of second phase ball.
The backs looked like scoring on a number of occasions, but always seemed to take the wrong option at the last moment. They also suffered a blow of loosing Pete Smith with a badly broken leg.
This caused the match to be moved to the smaller pitch which helped the Dronfield defence contain the young Belper backs.
In the second half Belper surged forward, led by Robinson and aided by replacement Warren Hayward, they laid siege to Dronfield's line but couldn't score.
Leon Edwards, Anthony England, with powerful runs and tricky veteran full back Dave Taylor all went near to scoring.
Craig Tennick and Ed Tomlinson worked tirelessly to create chances, whilst Ian Yates and Andy Ryan battered away in the pack.
An interception saw Dronfield score a second try and then Belper continued to pummel their defence, but were unable to make the score their possession and general play deserved.