JC Balls Belper 1st XV 41 v Aylestonian 1st XV 3 in the Junior Vase Preliminary round

Belper's first competitive match of the season saw them field their youngest ever squad of players with an average age of 22, the game started slowly for Belper with the visitors using their size advantage in the forwards to drive deep into Belper's half, but Belper's defence held firm with Begga and Dakin making some crunching tackles putting the Aylestonian attack on a back foot.


Despite the visitors early pressure they only managed to convert one penalty, and it was Belper who scored the first try of the match with some excellent work by the forwards taking the ball on, Dakin crashed into contact with Adams and Inns securing possession, Birden popped the ball out to Begga who sprinted cross field then spun an excellent pass 20 metres to Tennick who hit the ball and sprinted in to score in the Hospital corner. Gray also had a chance slightly earlier but a good covering tackle led him to knock on close to the try line.

At half time despite leading 5-3 Belper were unhappy with certain areas of play, Birden was replaced by Naylor.

The second half couldn't have started better with Belper receiving from the kick, Gratton collected and set up the ruck with Dakin, Woodward and Coombes securing the ball, Naylor picked the ball up looked to pass to Blake but then stepped inside his opposite number and left the defence totally wrong footed, as the defence made the recoving tackle Naylor spun the ball out to Gray who crashed onto the ball, outpacing two defenders, he then dummied the full back leaving him tackling air and headed for the posts and still had the cheek to step two further tackles to score under the posts allowing Blount to slot the conversion.

It was Gray again scoring following a clearing kick from the Aylestonians Fly-half, deep into Belper's half, Gray cut across field to catch the ball, then took on three tacklers who he weaved between to score under the posts again! Blount converted to give Belper a 19-3 lead.

Belper were now starting to play with a lot of confidence and it was man of the match Begga who scored the next try following excellent support work from Adams and Blount, the ball was spun out to Blake who in turn fed Ogarom who crashed through two tacklers then turned and popped to Begga who smashed into contact handing off the defender and sprinted 22 meters to put down under the posts. Blount tapped the ball over the top to convert his 3rd of the match.

Following an injury to his back, Gratton was replaced by Timberlake at hooker

Aylestonians found new life and the overly excitable Belper players found themselves having to crank up their defence to hold the onslaught of the visitors attack. Begga, Blount and Dakin were like dog poo covering ever inch of the pitch making tackles and supporting the Belper backs.

Belper managed to hold firm and from an attack from the visitor's defence Belper broke with Naylor feeding Blake who spun the ball wide to Ogarom, who popped the ball back to Tennick, who in turn fed Milly who sprinted 40 meters to score an excellent try.

With only 10 minutes left Belper were on the receiving end of some cheap shots from a couple of the visitors tiring forwards, the young players kept their cool and it was Belper who had the last laugh, scoring two well worked tries, the first coming from Willan on the wing following some excellent interplay between him and Belper's new full back John Milly who fed to Begga who popped to Willan, who ran in from 25 meters to score, Dakin finished the scoring following some strong play from the forwards, Dakin picked up from a ruck and crashed the defence to score near the posts.

Belper Won 41-3 and following the match Anderson said that if this young side sticks together and works hard together they can really look forward to something exciting happening this season.