Belper travelled the 72 mile cross country trip to Stamford hoping this could be the turning point of their season with players determined to start playing a more aggressive and urgent game.

Belper played into the wind in the first half and could have taken the lead had the referee not disallowed a try when Dakin and York picked up and drove over the line from a ruck, the referee adjudging that York had run into Dakin.

Moments later Stamford scored with one of their only visits into Belper's half when they mauled over following a mix up in Belper's defence.Holmes cleared the ball to touch metres from his line following a fumble from Gray, the home side then won the lineout and mauled over the line, and with Green lying under the ball the ref judged it to be down and gave the try.

Stamford extended the lead with a drop goal then soaked up pressure for the remainder of the half as Belper charged into the wind.

The second half saw Belper dominate for long periods but with the wind disappearing and the weather deteriorating handling errors and some dogged and borderline legal play saw Stamford only conceed 3 points from the boot of Blount.

Belper in the dying seconds went over again when York picked up at a ruck close to the line and drove over but the referee judged it to have been knocked on

Belper came away frustrated but realised they still aren't canny enough to play to a referee and Stamford refused to give in with good defence and excellent disruption in close play.

Belper wish Stamford all the best for the rest of their EDF cup run and hope they get to Twickenham.


Belper play at home this weekend to league leaders Worksop 2pm ko