Midlands 6 East (NW)

Belper 1st XV 40pts

Meden Vale 5pts

BELPER shook off the unavailability of 11 regular first team players to produce a big victory which took them back to the top of the table and increased their points difference which could prove iomportant at the end of the season.

The win also made amends for Belper’s first league defeat at Leesbrook a fortnight previous.

Wedding commitments and the lure of Paris in the Autumn meant that Belper were missing 11 regular first team players.

This afforded opportunities for some younger players to move up from the second team and make a claim for the first team shirt and also for some veterans to dust off their boots.

Belper were quick to set out their intentions. From the opening kick off Merv Holmes powered 50-yards upfield and from the resulting ruck, some slick handling in the backs saw Chris Byard score a try on his first team debut after just 53 seconds.

Meden Vale’s defence lacked organisation and Belper cut through time and time again but too many times the final pass went astray.

Eventually the pressure paid off as Simon Bennion crossed to score Belper’s second try.

Meden Vale showed little adventure in attack preferring to kick the ball away, however, it was a defensive mistake from a kick that allowed Vale to score their first try.

The amount of possession and territory Belper had enjoyed meant that they should have

been further ahead than 16-5 at half time.

The second half began as the first had with Belper scoring after less than two minutes. Good driving runs from York and Inns allowed England the opportunity to score his fourth try of the season.

Belper never allowed Meden Vale into the game in the second half although they had become more organised in defence.

Tiredness began to creep into the visitors’ game and Belper’s fitness started to show.

Mike Inns capped a fine performance in the front row with a try and another swift move from the backs saw Bennion cross for his second try.

Steve Dymond scored the final try of the game, a pick up from the base of a ruck and a trademark dummy which was bought by the Meden Vale back line allowed him to snipe over the line.

Dymond also converted two tries and kicked two penalties.

This Saturday Belper are away at fourth-placed Uttoxeter.