With
only 4 games remaining Belper knew they had to keep up their winning run in
the league if they were going to still be in contention for a final push for
promotion with Melbourne 3 points ahead and Rolls Royce on equal points but
with a better points difference.
Despite Chesterfield being a lower position in the league they started the game
well forcing Belper to work hard for possession and keep Belper's attacks at
bay, and following good defensive play the visitors opened the scoring following
a Belper player straying into an offside position, the penalty was awarded and
Chesterfields 10 slotted well from 35 meters out.
Belper kept pressurising but seemed to be a little rushed in everything they
did with balls going to ground and players giving possession away with some
wild passing. Belper finally got on the score board following sustained pressure,
Chesterfield handled in the ruck and Blount slotted the resulting penalty. 3-3
Belper continued to pressure and following a more calm and steady approach from
the players, sticking to a pattern of play, with centers crashing then forwards
setting up and crashing, Belper's backs re-aligned and spread the ball wide
with Gray outpacing his opposite no to score under the posts from 30 yards out.
Blount converted.
At half time Belper were leading 11-3 but Coaches Barden and Boyd had stern
words for the team, explaining that Belper were trying to overdo things and
to stick to the basics.
The second half started as the 1st had with Chesterfield pushing and determind
to get back into the game using their forwards to crash the ball on but seemed
a little raw in attack following the loss of their influential 10 with a nasty
head injury. But to their credit started to use the ball well and pressurise
Belper.
10 minutes in saw Belper make a couple of changes, one in the backs with Dymond
replacing Blackwell and Omara replacing Hardy in the forwards.
The changes seemed to give Belper a bit of a boost and the ball started to flow
well with Dymond bossing the backs and Meakin controlling the forwards from
9, Meakin sent a ball wide to Dymond who popped to Tennick who in turn fed Blake
who crashed in near the posts, Blount slotted to give Belper a 18-3 lead.
From the kick off Belper knocked on and Chesterfield drove the pack on and started
to push for points again but great tackling in the centers from Blake and Tennick
kept the attackers at bay.
Belper managed to clear up field and win the resulting line the ball was spun
wide and Bennion sprinted 20 yards feeding Lewis who was held up short of the
line, he managed to pop the ball away to onrushing Woodward who scored his first
try for the club. 23-3
with only 20 minutes left Belper made their last change with Gratton coming
on for Smith and as Chesterfield kicked off Belper spun the ball from Watson
to Inns who crashed into contact popping the ball out to Blake who fed Bennion
who inturn popped to Lewis who sprinted 15 yards handing off the tackler to
score just right of the posts. 28 -3
Belpers next score was forward's play with a spin, Belper won a line out near
the visitors 22 the ball was taken well by Lewis who popped down to Blount who
faked a pass to Dymond instead spinning to Dakin who ran in from 20 yards out
to score in the corner 33-3
With only seconds left Belper recieved the ball from the kick off and Gratton
spun the ball wide to Omara who popped to Blake who popped to Dymond who ran
50 yards popping out to the looping Blake to dive in at the corner to give Belper
a final score of 38-3.
Despite the fact Belper performed below par they still managed to get a decent
result and both coaches congratulated them but reminded them they need to work
harder as a unit rather than individuals!!!
JC
Balls Belper 1st XV 38 v Chesterfield 1st XV 3