Belper 1st XV hadn't played a competitive game for over 4 weeks,
their previous game was against Keyworth away where they had lost 22-17 so
revenge was in their minds.
The visitors kicked off to Belper towards the old club house and Watson collected
the ball well and took the ball into contact with Holmes and Sisson close
in support!! Belper attacked and kept the ball for most of the opening 10
minutes and came close when Booth went on a darting run deep into the visitor's
22 popping the ball out to Holmes who in turn gave the ball to Inns who was
tackled centimetres short of the line, with the defender coming in from an
offside position and finding himself sin binned but no penalty try given.
Belper opened the scoring following hands on the floor from the visitors so
the penalty was awarded to Belper 40 yards out from the posts, Booth slotted
to give Belper a 3-0 lead 9 minutes gone.
As that piece of play unfolded Booth had obviously hurt himself and was limping
badly, so after only 15 minutes Belper had to make their 1st change with Tennick
replacing him in the centre. Minutes later following a well taken high ball
at full back Bennion set off on a wavy run getting tackled out of play, unfortunately
that was to be his last contribution with him injuring himself in contact,
Blount replaced Bennion with Belper reshuffling their pack and O'Gorman moving
to centre and Blount joining the back row.
Belper's next attack saw Blount carry the ball on well with Dakin and Inns
supporting well and the ball being shipped out through the backs. Inns had
followed play and crashed through a gap and as he was tackled meters from
the line he popped the ball up to England who crashed over to score, Blount
slotted the conversion to extend the home side's lead to 10-0.
Keyworth came back at Belper using their heavier front 5 to roll the ball
in the maul, but the weight advantage was thwarted by excellent tackling all
over the place from Dakin through to Blackwell.
Half time 10-0
The second half continued where the 1st half had left off with both sides
working hard around the park, Keyworth keeping the ball tight to use their
powerful players to take the ball on and Belper shipping the ball wide using
speed and fitness to their advantage.
The game was tight for much of the second half with Belper edging possession
and spending 60% of the time in the Keyworth half. The forwards game was massively
improved with Dakin and Inns propping in their first game together and Gratton
returning giving an extra yard of pace and turn of aggression needed to disrupt
the visitor's pack. Sisson and Watson gave power around the park and Blount,
Holmes and England's support play and ball recycling was awesome.
Keywoth scored a penalty of their own to get them back into the game and start
to press Belper.
Belper's next try came following a penalty awarded deep in their own 22, Blount
kicked cross field with Ogorman and Gray chasing down and tackling well with
the ball being kicked into touch metres short of the line. The line-out was
caught well by England and popped out to Naylor who slipped through a gap
and spun wide to Meakin who in turn popped the ball out to Tennick who crashed
through a gap to score to the right of the posts, Blount slotted the conversion
to give Belper a 17 - 3 lead.
Belper continued to pressure with excellent running in the backs from Emslie
who took the ball on well on numerous occasions and caused his opposite number
all kinds of problems.
Another kick downfield from Blackwell saw Gray pressure the Visitor's 13 who
kicked away straight to Holmes, who caught well above his head skipped past
3 tacklers and dived into the corner to finish the day's scoring 22-3
Keyworth rallied for the last 10 minutes with Belper tackling like mad men,
Inns and England knocking attackers back time and time again, then Belper
held firm for the last 3 minutes with 13 players when Blackwell and Tennick
were Sin Binned in close succession for allegedly handling on the floor.
But the players held firm and came off the field happy with their performances!
Belper's next game in the league is next sat away to Tupton 2.15 ko