Marvelous come back inspires Belper

Belper 1st XV 12 - Uttoxeter 1st XV 6

On a glorious sunny afternoon at the strutts ground, Belper RUFC faced one of the North Derbyshire and Leicester League one's stongest teams. Uttoxeter 1st XV beat Belper home and away last season and as Belper prepared for the match it was drilled into them by Capitan Gratton the importance of togetherness and determination.

Belper started the strongest with the forwards using their speed and strength to take the ball on well and supply the backs with good ball to run at their opposite numbers.

Merv 'Marvelous' Holmes returned to the side along with Dakin to give Belper a boost with their tenacity and guile, maintaining good possession and excellent ball retention. Belper scored within 15 minutes of the start following excellent running from Dymond moving the ball out wide to Teager who was tackled 15 meters short of the line, Gratton picked up popping to Holmes who took the ball to ground just short of the try line, as the ruck formed Dakin picked up and stepped inside the tackler to dive over for a well worked try.

Belper continude to dominate with Blake, Coombes and England all coming close to scoring only to be foiled by good covering tackles from the Uttoxeter backs.

With minutes left in the half a knock on was picked up in the Uttoxeter 22 by their winger who kicked down field and chased after it. Joe Teager racing past him and picking the ball up, unfortunately he seemed to pass the ball straight out into touch giving the visitors a penalty which they kicked out over the dead ball line giving Belper a drop out on the 22. Unfortunately as Belper competed for the ball following the kick the ref adjudged Belpers winning of the ball to be illegal thus giving the visitors an easy penalty in front of goal which was easily converted

Half time - Belper 5 Uttoxeter 3

The second half saw Belper on the back foot with Uttoxeter taking the ball on more in the forwards. Excellent defending from Dakin, Inns and Holmes saw the visitors thwarted all over the pitch and with Belper appearing under the cosh, replacements in the form of young guns Coombes and T Holmes stepped into the fray, replacing the old hard working legsof Gratton and Omara.

Belper started to ask questions of the visitors defence with B Coombes taking the ball on and feeding Dymond, Dymond put a long kick down field which was chased down by the pacey Boon but he was beaten to the catch by the full back who called a late mark, which was controversially given by the ref. the kick only found touch at the visitors 22. Belper won the ball from the reslting line- out with Adams, and N Coombes spun the ball to Dymond, Boons diversionary run drew 2 defenders, Dymond popped the ball Blake who had cut infield from outside center to burst past 2 defenders, popping the ball out to the onrushing Teager who flew in to score just left of the posts. Dymond slotted to give Belper a 12-3 lead.

Man of the Match Dakin was then replaced by the ever green Dick Lardven who managed to be everywhere on the pitch popping up to tackle wingers and props as the visitors looked for a reply.

Uttoxeter managed to score 3 further points but Belper's tackling for the final 15minutes was dogged and unforgiving as the visitors battered Belper's defence.

The game finished 12-6 with capitan Gratton praising the effort and togetherness of all of his players, with special mention to Man of the match Dakin in the forwards and the excellent backs play of Dymond, Boon, Blake, the Teagers and Blackwell.

The second team destroyed Uttoxeters 2nds 38-0 with A Laven scoring 4 tries, Dyson, Town scoring and Emslie slotting 4 well taken conversions.

Belper's next home game is this Saturday as old foes Melbourne come to town KO 3pm