Midlands 6 East
(NW)
JC Balls Belper 1st XV 38pts v All Spartans 1st XV 12pts
BELPER returned to the league campaign needing victory to keep alive hopes of
promotion with the top two sides facing the bottom two sides respectively!
Belper started well scoring within seconds of the kick off with the ball being
collected in the forwards from the kick off and the ball being run up field
by Watson who popped the ball wide to Dymond who spun
the ball wide to wing wizard Gray who sprinted in outpacing all in his way!
Blount slotted the conversion for 7-0.
Belper continued to press with some good flowing play, the forwards battling
hard and feeding the backs well. Unfortunately they failed to add to the scoring
despite Blackwell diving in at the corner but being adjudged to have made contact
with the corner flag before grounding the ball.
Blackwell was unlucky twice more in the half when in open space the ball catching
him off guard and not able to collect thus knocking on.
The hosts managed to add to their lead with an excellent team move. Inns had
crashed a into contact following a penalty move and
the ball was spun wide with Dymond holding the ball
well and eventually Blake burst through the gap created and scored under the
posts.
Blount slotted the conversion and Belper led 14-0.
Belper were starting to coast but Spartans didn’t roll over and kept pressurising
Belper’s attacks.
A deep clearance was collected by Blount who caught the ball well and ran back
towards contact. His attempted clearing kick was charged down and the Spartan
Hooker was first to react picking up and spreading the ball wide for his winger
to sprint in and score right of the uprights for 14-7.
Belper sparked again and started to move the ball well with Adams and Smith
combining well in the line out to feed Meakin who
moved the ball wide to Dymond. He dummied two defenders
and crashed over to extend Belper’s lead
At half time Coaches Barden and Boydd
asked the team for more hard work and for the team to keep their concentration.
From the home kick off the visitors steam rollered
Belper out of the way with missed tackles in the centres and forwards allowing
Spartans to drive within metres of the home line and pick and go worked well
from the back of a ruck ended with the hosts conceding
a try in the corner for 21-12.
Belper’s obvious nerves were helped out when a poor pass in the Spartans line
was pounced on by Holmes who sprinted in from 30 yards to give Belper breathing
space at 26-12.
Holmes scored again after excellent support play, the ball moved through the
hands in the backs and Gray charged through several defenders to pop the ball
to the on-running Holmes who jinked past his opponent with a cheeky step and
go to score in the same corner and a 31-12 lead.
Belper were on top and they punished Spartans’ failure to move the ball wide
in the second half when Gray scored another fine individual try, outpacing three
defenders from inside his half to score near the posts.
Blount again slotted
the conversion, 38-12
There could have been a further try but Blake, having powered through a gap
and faced with a certain try, tried to pop the ball out to Blount at ankle height
which caused a knock on.
This was a good victory but if Belper had kept their heads and concentration
they could have reduced the points difference that
Rolls Royce hold over them.