J C Balls Belper 1st XV 13 v Rolls Royce 1st XV 15

Belper kicked off this game fielding an almost unrecognisable team from the side that Melbourne 7 days ago, only a handful of players making it with many out either through injury or illness.
With players being unavailable it gave some of the 2nd team players the chance to shine with Salad, Rob, Harland, Yorke, Bennion, O'Gorman and Emslie stepping in and also Nicholson making his first team debut on the wing.
Belper started the game well in front of another large crowd including the Belper OP's and a touring side from Aireborough. Early pressure was but on Rolls Royce with Woodward, Gratton and Merv making big runs. From one of these runs Belper found an opening and with the overlap the ball was thrown just out of the grasp of Nicholson.
Belper's next real chance came when Meakin fed Bennion who combined well with O'Gorman only to be stopped just short of the line. Rolls Royce then started to apply some pressure of there own and with half time beckoning managed to get two quick tries and one conversion to make it 12 - 0 to the away side.
Half time - Belper made a couple of changes with Salad coming on for the impressive Hardy, Ben Garratt making his first team return after a year or so and Laven coming on for the youngster Nicholson who had made a good account of himself.
With the experience that these changes brought the game was again being controlled by Belper with Adams and Harland winning and spoiling Royce's lineouts. Again Belper's pack drove down into the Rolls Royce 22 with good play by Yorke and realising they had an overlap Naylor fed Laven who passed quickly to the speedster Gray who effortlessly touched down for his 26th try of the season. Belper 5 Rolls Royce 12.
With their tails now up Belper immediately hit Rolls Royce with a quick interchange between Garratt and Emslie which created a gap for the evergreen Merv Holmes to power through to score in the corner. Belper 10 Rolls Royce 12
Now in total control of the game Belper pressed for the score that would put them in the lead and it didn't take long after some great forward play a penalty was awarded to the right and Emslie stepped up to slot the kick superbly to give Belper a slender 1 point lead.
With 12 minutes left Belper seemed certain to have done enough to win but after what seem to be a legal challenge by Garatt the referee sin binned the youngster and awarded Rolls Royce a penalty in front of the posts. Belper 13 Rolls Royce 15
This was the way it stayed with Belper nearly scoring again but O'Gorman was unable to hold on to the interception.
This defeat was the 1st XV's last game of the season, although there was nothing to show for it, it has been a superb season with this young side starting to show a lot of maturity and things are certainly looking good for next season.
Next Saturday the 2nd XV are in the Derbyshire 2nd team semi final against Buxton KO 3 o'clock. Bar open all day. Please come and show your support.