Belper seconds do the double!

Belper 2nd XV 22 v Dronfield 2nd XV 7

Belper playing in the Derbyshire plate 2nd team final showed the first team the way forward with some excellent rugby on a windy wet day!

Belper travelled to Amber Valley to the Derbyshire cups final day with a good solid second team who had already won the 2nd team league and were looking to do the double!!

The game kicked off at 11am Sunday morning meaning an early night for all involved and it certainly paid off with Belper bossing the game, the early throes saw a try from Cooke disallowed following a dubious decision from the Ref. Holmes broke 2 tackles sprinted 20 yards and popped the ball out to Cooke who beat two defenders only to see his effort disallowed.

Minutes later Dronfield broke with the ball moving wide with only Shepherd to beat, but there was no way round with Shepherd who dumped the winger 5 meters off the pitch with a crunching tackle.

Belper opened the scoring following some excellent mauling from the forwards with M Laven controlling the rolling maul and setting up a ruck with big bro Tony picking up 5 meters out and boshing through to score near the corner.

Dronfield pressured again soon after and a superb last ditch tackle saw the their center knock on as Cooke managed to claw the players arm as he seemed certain to score.

Belper's second try came following futher excellent forward play mauling forwards with Town and Yule taking the ball on and A Laven picking up at the back of the ruck and dancing through the attentions of three defenders to score right of the posts.

Belper went in 10-0 to the good looking the stronger side but Dronfield came out fired up, with the bigger forwards disrupting the scrums on Belper's put ins, wheeling the scrum expertly with Belper having to get the ball back quickly. Sunley and Woodward steadied the scrums and with the forwards working well Belper started to turn the screw and finally their hard work started to pay dividends. Teager made an awsome 50 meters run down the wing and stepped inside his opposite number but was tackled just short of the line, Yule and P Holmes were quick to support with A Laven picking up and powering through to score his second try to give Belper a 15-0 lead.

Minutes later Belper pressured again and when Laven seemed certain to score his hat-trick he popped it out to Yule who scored left of the posts. J Blount converted excellently from 25 meters out on the line.

With 10 minutes left of the match, the ref seemed determind to give Dronfield a consolation with penalty after penalty given until Dronfield finally scored following a dubious tap from the penalty and the large No8 scored under the posts. The try was converted so the game finished 22-7 with Belper 2nd team deserved victors, but as in recent years with the last 2 trophies we have won, the cup has been missing so as of yet Belper are still awaiting presentation of cup.

Belpers Capitan M Laven was delighted with the display from his team and said today was a good day at the office! Commenting it was nice to play with both my brothers at the same time again!