The old foe from Bakewell visited Strutt Playing Fields, and true to form presented the usual challenge of a strong, experienced pack, and young, quick set of backs. With Belper selecting a team with much the same attributes, the game promised to be a well evened match.

Belper started the game the brightest and immediately took the game to Bakewell. Both packs probed and tested each other, in attempts to gain supremacy, however honours were relatively even. Both teams won their fair share of ball and whilst the Bakewell backs were young and adventurous, trying to run around the Belper defence, the Belper backs stayed strong and repelled and disrupted the slinky moves that Bakewell tried.

When Belper won good ball, Daz Griffiths fed his backs who took the rather more direct approach with either Captain Homezy or Big Brian bursting through the defensive line. Big Brian was so effective at breaking the defensive line that Bakewell tried to "double up" with their tackles which in turn created space for Young Dobber and Nanny McPhee to exploit. With Swiss Tony and Minga on the wings seeing a constant supply of ball, they managed to get over the surprise and keep forcing Bakewell back.

Belper scored the first try of the match which started with hooker newby Chris Doodah winning the put in at the scrum on the left side of the field, then following up the play to take a "popped" ball and cross the line on the right side of the pitch. As Belper congratulated Chris on his fitness, agility, speed, ball handling skills and awareness, we think Jack Blount converted the kick. It was whilst Belper held the lead that something surreal happened...... it should be noted that Captain Holmezy created a huge gap in the Belper defence by actually tackling his opposite number, causing the whole of the Belper back row to stop in shock and amazement, fortunately Bakewell didn't capitalize on the situation and Captain Holmezy promised not to do it again.

The first half continued to ebb and flow with both teams having good periods of possession. Bakewell managed to score a couple of well worked tries in the first half to take a slender lead. In fact, if it wasn't for the points difference, the first half could well have been declared a draw!


The second half followed much the same course as the first with both sides playing well. Early in the second half, there was a crucial turning point, when prop Andy Ryan tried to practise an Irish jig whilst scrummaging. Unfortunately the rest of the Belper front row were not as well choreographed as Andy and the scrum collapsed. After the debris was cleared the referee decided to penalise Andy for "twisting his knee"...... (I kid you not)....!!!! Unfortunately Andy was unable to continue, and as Belper's replacement prop had not turned up, (choosing to do a bit of wallpapering instead) it mean't the scrums went to un-contested, which seemed to suit Bakewell more than Belper.

Darren Griffiths looked the part when he filled in at prop, but clearly had little idea of front row play, which allowed the ever youthful Dr Spillsbury to fill in at scrum half. After a rampaging maul and drive into the Bakewell 22m, Mick Elove broke away like a galloping Rhino maurauding across the plains of the Serengeti. As the try line beckoned and no defenders within 10m of him the try seemed enevitable, but no, despite no shot being heard, he collapsed, arms and legs akimbo and feigned death, as if felled by a hunter using a high calibre rifle with armour piercing bullets to pregnate his thick skin, and fell to the floor 5m out. Why he didn't make it across the line, no one will ever know.

Meanwhile, both sets of backs continued to attack and defend each others efforts. Despite Bakewell now allocating 3 players to try and stop Big Brian, he managed to power his way over the line to score a very aggressive try. Again, Blount Jnr converted.
Bakewell managed to keep their noses in front, scoring 2 more tries, both of which came from open play with the Bakewell backs being just a bit too quick for the Belper side. Despite now trailing by 2 tries Belper didn't let their heads drop, and even though they didn't win any of their own lineout ball all day, Tom Mathews managed to pinch one from Bakewell and Dr Spillsbury moved the ball down the backs, with Nanny Mcphee taking an inside ball and scoring near to the posts. Blount Jnr again converted to make the score 21-26.

With the Belper side now within 5 points of victory they pressed on and had the better of the last 10 minutes or so. The best chance coming when the backs stretched their legs once again and young Dobber drew his opposite number with a sublime scowl and fed Grant Nicolson who showed why he was loaned to Matlock for a season. Unfortunately, it was clear that Grant had learnt little whilst away from the bosom of Belper, and chose to cut back inside when the easier route seemed to be down the wing. It is obviously going to be a long hard struggle to get Grant back to his former standard, but hey, everyday's a learning day!

Andy Laven, standing in as ref today, continued to give Bakewell every opportunity to close the game out, but finally lost patience and blew up for full time with the score at 21-26. It was a fair result in the end with Bakewell just deserving the win. The game was played in an excellent manner and enjoyed by all concerned, the only odd thing being that Mick Elove failed to score. New boy, Chris Doodah, was awarded "Man of the Match" for his excellent debut and first try. Apparently, he plays football (???) and judging by the state of his shirt, doesn't possess an iron, but he'll be forgiven if he is available next week.