JC Balls Belper 1st XV 32 v Chesterfield
1st XV 0
Belper
welcomed a Chesterfield side down to Strutts Fields following 2 victories over
the bottom team of the Midland 6 league. However it proved not to be a simple
stroll in the park as the visitors were treating this cup match as a serious
way of finishing their season with a piece of glory.
Playing with the sun behind them Belper started well but played a little panicky
with the ball being forced through the hands a little too fast by the backs,
as the forwards kept setting a solid platform to work from. Belper opened the
scoring after 5 minutes when England picked up at 8 in the scrum, drew his tackler
and popped out to Meakin who in turn released Blackwell who stepped past his
opposite number and popped the ball back into Inns who set off on a trade mark
smashing run from just inside the 22. With Tennick screaming at him to pop the
ball wide Inns simply drove through 3 tacklers to go over right of the posts
in front of the clubhouse. 5-0
Chesterfield came back at Belper and pressed deep into Belper's half, trying
to muscle over but with Holmes, Inns and England tackling hard from the back
row and Ogorman, Booth and Byard in the backs pressing in defence, Chesterfield
started making mistakes. Belper scored their next try following good work in
the forwards. Holmes stopping a Chesterfield attack in its tracks and Dakin
ripping the ball from the attacker then passing the ball out to England who
set off down field outpacing 2 defenders then crashing into contact and passing
the ball off his right shoulder with Blackwell taking the ball well and hitting
Gray with a 30 yard spin pass, Gray outpaced his opposite numbe to dive in at
the corner 10-0
With seconds left in the half, following another Chesterfield barrage of pressure
aided by some strange reffing decisions Belper tackled their way out of trouble
and kicked the ball downfield. As Chesterfield's winger collected the ball deep
in his 22 Byard and Tennick hit him hard knocking him backwards and Dakin picked
up to dance his way past 3 tacklers to score under the posts, Booth slotted
the kick to give Belper a 17-0 half time lead
Words of encouragement from coaches Barden, Robinson and Boyd rallied the troops
and encouraged the players to keep focussed on the game rather than the niggly
punches and decisions which seemed to be going against them.
Belper knocked on from the kick-off and found themselves under pressure with
the scrum being adjudged to have been collapsed by Belper. Chesterfield then
kicked the resulting penalty into the corner and won the line-out, then for
about 15minutes Chesterfield threw everthing short of a crooked spire at Belper
but they held firm with Hayward, Woodward and Dakin smashing players backwards
time and time again. Holmes and Inns kept foraging for ball on the floor prior
to rucks being formed and Belper's hard work in defence turned the game back
their way when a clearing kick down field was kicked into touch, the resulting
line-out was won by Adams, Meakin spread the ball quickly out through the backs
to Booth who proceeded to step, turn and accelerate over the line to score a
superb individually finished try 22-0
Belper battled hard with Chesterfield who managed to wind themselves up and
despite late hits and sneaky punches the young heads of Belper kept their cool
as the visitors lost the plot in places and Belper notched up a further 2 tries
from Dakin and Man of the Match Woodward. Dakin crashed over following good
work from Holmes, the ball being sent wide to Blackwell who looked to spread
the ball wide but instead sneaked it back inside to the on running Dakin who
crashed over 27-0 and Woodward finished the scoring with a show of pace and
power which wouldn't usually be associated with a prop. Belper won a scrum on
the visitor's 10 metre line, then the ball went wide into the backs, Ogorman
crashed into contact and popped the ball up to Woodward on the 22 who proceeded
to run through 2 tacklers and outpace a 3rd then run over the top of a 4th to
score in the corner giving Belper a respectful 32-0 win despite having so much
against them in a hard earned win
Coach Barden praised the team for their togetherness and told them to now concentrate
on preparing themselves for the tough visit from Tupton next saturday 3pm ko
at Strutts Fields