Following Belper's storming display the previous week in the EDF Junior Vase Beating Bourne 72-0 with some of the best running rugby the team had played in some time, it was back to the grindstone facing Meden Vale in the league.

Meden Vale had a couple of familiar faces with some North Derbyshire players in the centers who, in their last visit had enjoyed scoring no less than 84 points in a one sided affair. Belper weren't gonna let that happen again and as it turned out Meden Vale didn't have the same ammunition.

The visitors kicked off playing away from the old Clubhouse. Belper started slowley and Meden Vale controlled the game with some good tight rugby keeping possession in the forwards and feeding their backs well. Belper defended well but following a couple of strange decisions from the referee found themselves defending deep in their 22, some crunching tackles from Dakin, Taylor and Blount kept the visitors from crossing the line but following a mazey run from Meden Vales number 12 and some strong rucking the ball was picked up and driven over in the corner to give the visitors a 5-0 lead with 15 minutes gone.

Blount came close moments later with a penalty atempt which skimmed the upright, then following good attacking play from Dymond at 10 the ball was crashed by Dakin and the Meden vale players tried to handle on the floor in front of the posts. Blount stepped up to pop the penalty over to bring Belper back into the game.

From the restart Woodward collected the ball well and popped it off to Adams who ran into contact with Coombes supporting, Lyon picked up from the ruck and popped out to Dymond who spun the ball wide to Blackwell, who crashed into contact on the 22, Tennick followed in and drove 3 defenders back from the ruck, Coombes picked up and sprinted 20 yards to score just left of the uprights. Blount slotted the conversion to give Belper a 10-5 lead.

Meden Vale replied with a penalty of their own and started to look to pressure Belper. This phase of pressure saw some excellent last ditch tackles at full back from K Jockey to keep the visitors at bay. Following the visitor's pressure it was Belper scoring again following excellent handling from Dymond spinning the ball out to Blackwell who let K Jockey come inside him, slipping easily between him and Dymond to spin the ball out to Gray who out-paced three defenders to run in from 40 yards out and score left of the posts. Belper went into half time 15-8 to the good.

The second half saw Poorly Boy Blake come onto the field despite being in bed all week with MAN FLU, replacing Willan.

Blake made an instant impact following the reshuffle with Blackwell moving to full back and K Jockey moving to the wing, Tennick and Blake started to wreak havoc on their opposite numbers with Blake crashing in and Tennick recycling the ball. Blount scored two more penalties to further Belper's lead to 21-8.

England then replaced Holmes at second row and following a spin pass fom Man of the Match Lyon out to Coombes the ball was popped to Tennick who crashed into contact popping the ball inside to England who ran in avoiding the attention of 2 tacklers by dummying and stepping over to score. Blount then slotted the conversion to give Belper a 28-8 lead

The visitors sneaked a try back following a fumble in the Belper maul allowing the Meden Vale forwards to recycle and feed the backs who fed their 13 who avoided the attentions of Tennick and Inns to score under the posts. 28-13

Belper woke up again and took the game to the Visitors. Some excellent work from Taylor spoiling the oppositions ball led to a ruck with Dakin and Adams driving over, Lyon picked up and popped the ball to Coombes who spun to Tennick who popped the ball back to Blake who crashed through the gain line and as he was tackled Tennick took the pop and sprinted over to score from 35 yards out dragging 2 defenders with him and stepping the full back.

Moments later following the kick the ball was caught by Woodward who took the ball on popping to Lyon who spun wide to Dymond who sprinted 20 yards over the half way popped off to Dakin who crashed into contact and popped the ball back to the supporting Dymond who in one move put the ball across his body to Tennick who sprinted 20 yards deep into the visitors 22, his attempted looped pass was patted down and despite trying to kick on he landed on his arse but fortunately also landed on the ball, Taylor and England set up the ruck and the ball was spun wide from Lyon to Gray who sprinted 20 meters popping the ball back in to Blake to dive over in the corner. Dymond floated the kick over from the angle to give Belper a 43-13 victory

Belper's Capitan commented that even though it wasn't pretty at times the boys had stuck together and hard work, togetherness and great skills had given them a well deserved victory.