This game last season saw Tupton come to Belper and leave with the spoils having shown a young Belper side how to graft out a hard earned victory with a never say die approach. This season it was Belper who sneaked the victory with a bit of grit and in the end a lot of discipline.

Tupton kicked off with the wind and sun behind them and got stuck straight into Belper with Gratton catching and nobody supporting him, he was bushwacked and stamped on, Tupton did however knock on and Belper won the scrum with Blackwell feeding Meakin, who spun wide to Blake who took off from the half way, crashing through one defender, dummying another and running 30 yards to score under the posts. Blackwell slotted the conversion and gave Belper a 7-0 lead.

Belper spent the next 20 minutes pressurising the Tupton defence and with some excellent movement from Blake, Lewis and Gray in the backs combined with excellent scavenging in the forwards from Holmes, Hayward, Inns and Dakin, Belper kept pressing but the only points they managed before half time were from a penalty 30 yards out which Blackwell slotted to give Belper a 10-0 lead.

Tupton slowed the game down and kept the ball tight with some powerful mauling which lead to a try in the corner despite Belper holding firm in defence, the young guns of Belper couldn't stop a more canny and experienced set of forwards punching and stamping their way through to score with the ref not offering either side much protection.

The second half started well for Belper 10 minutes after the interval following a Tupton line out Adams responded to a poor throw winning the ball, landing then sprinting 70 yards skipping past 4 defenders before looping a ball out to Gratton who fed Holmes, who in turn darted through a gap to score near the posts for his first of the season. Blackwell kicked the conversion 17-5.

Minutes later Belper, trying to overdo things deep in their half let Tupton bully their way over to score in the corner, despite the ball appearing to be held up and the ref being unsited to plenty of boot being used on the ground from the scoring side.

Tupton's taunting of Blake seemed to inspire him when a ball was spun wide to him from Meakin, he drew his opposite number and as he was hit released the ball wide to Gray who took off and out paced 2 defenders to score near the posts. Blackwell continued his 100% kicking record to give Belper a 24-10 lead.

Belper continued to press but it was Tupton who had the last score of the match following some sustained forward pressure they appeared to stamp all over Woodward but the ref gave the penalty and while Belper seemed to be talking to the ref the Tupton 15 crashed over to score and the ref allowed it.

Belper Finished the game with Tupton's 9 getting shirty as usual, but both capitans calmed things and Belper walked off 24-17 deserved winners

Next league game is on sat the 4th of January at home to Buxton 2.15 ko