With the end of the season drawing nearer and nearer Belper knew that Tupton were going to prove a good test as the home side look towards the possibility of promotion. With the wind driving from the hospital end of the pitch towards the old Clubhouse Tupton kicked off and Belper spent the opening 10 minutes with the visitors using the wind to push Belper into their own 22, Belper seemed a little disjointed with players not supporting each other and trying to rush their play when the simple option would suffice.

Belper still held firm and managed to sneak a breakaway try scored by top try scorer Emslie, good running from Watson taking the ball on well into contact with Dakin and Woodward quick in support saw the ball shipped out from Meakin to Holmes then to Tennick who turned as Emslie ran behind him taking the ball on a switch then crashing through 3 tacklers to score under the posts, Booth slotted the conversion 7-0

Belper took a roasting from Barden and seemed to wake up a little with the ball being kept tighter and play also being tightened up, hooker Hayward was replaced minutes later as evergreen Omara replaced him and it was Omara who crashed over the line minutes after coming on, only for play to be brought back, but he was soon rewarded for hard work with a pop ball coming to him as he stepped past 2 tacklers to score right of the posts, Booth converted 14-0

Tupton continued to pressure with their larger forwards keeping the ball tight then driving, drawing Belper in then spinning the ball wide to their 10 who made yards with some jinking runs, but some big hits from Blackwell soon slowed him. Belper scored again when a strong run from Holmes was popped out to Tennick who looked to be running in treacle as he was chased down in the visitors 22 but quick support play from Adams and Watson saw the ball popped out to Bulldozer Inns who smashed through 2 players and over the line to score right of the posts

Belper went into half time 19-0 to the good having not played their best, but coaches Barden and Boyd pushed them to use the wind and pressure Tupton into making mistakes in their own 22.

Belper kicked off with the wind but found themselves under pressure as Tupton kept the ball tight and drove up the middle of the park using their larger forwards to batter holes in Belper's defence, for the opening 5 minutes of the second half this appeared to be working but with Dakin ripping the ball from another attack Belper's 10 Meakin sent the ball deep into the Tupton's 22 relieving the pressure and giving Belper an instant lift. As they won the line out and the ball was popped to blind side of play Dakin crashed onto the ball running down the line to score in the corner. 24-0

Tupton started to tire and following the kick off the ball was moveds wide from Watson through Belpers hands with Emslie receiving the ball and running in from the half way line to score in the corner, 29-0

Belper continued to press and were determined to keep the scoring going as Tupton absorbed pressure but with the wind and momentum on their side Belper pushed on, one Line-out won on the Visitors 22 was spun wide to Meakin who popped the ball to Tennick who stepped through a gap in the Tupton defence then sprinted towards the corner as the last defender chased towards the corner he stepped the opposite way to skip past him to run in under the posts. Blackwell slotted the kick following Booths exit with a Knee injury. 36-0

Naylor who had replaced Booth was next to score following some good interpassing from Meakin and Blackwell the supporting Holmes ran the ball out of his half popping the ball to Naylor who sprinted in from 40 yards out to score just left of the posts. 41-0

Not to be outshone Meakin, who started at 9 now playing 10, scored a clever try following good play from Belper's forwards, Skivington crashing the ball in setting up the ruck with Adams close in support, Naylor spun the ball out to Meakin who looked to switch with Tennick, the Tupton's defence was drawn by the dummy run and Meakin dashed through the gap to dive in right of the posts. 46-0

Holmes then stepped in with 2 well taken tries either side of a Dakin pile driver, Holmes constant running and support play was rewarded with a try when he crashed over from a cheeky pop from Naylor then his second try was scored under the posts following a mazy run from inside his own 22 running the length of the pitch handing off 2 tacklers then out pacing 3 players to dive under the posts to finish Belpers scoring 58-0 with Blackwell slotting the resulting conversion

Coach Barden was very pleased with the final result praising his players for their togetherness and warned them they will need to be on top of their game for their final league game awy to Long Eaton on the 12th of April.

There is a coach going from Belper on the 12th to Long Eaton anybody wishing to join us should contact Simon Blount on 07850024638 to guarantee a place on the fun bus.