After 3 weeks of last minute losses and nervy performances Belper could have been forgiven for being nervous as Nottinghamians had beaten league leaders Chesterfield the previous week. But Belper welcomed back Merv Holmes and Peter Smith to the back row and it reaped dividends, with the home side stifling the visitor's attacks time and time again with any forward move knocked backwards and plenty of support in attack. All of which had been missing in previous weeks

Belper had the opportunity to take the lead with minutes played when Dakin broke tackles heading up field quickly then crashing into contact, quickly supported by England and Inns. Meakin spun the ball wide to Blackwell who popped the ball to the on-running Emslie who took the ball into contact and popped the ball out to Tennick with the line in sight, but Tennick's hands were asleep, knocking on when a try looked on,

Moments later following further pressure from the Belper forwards the visitors cleared, kicking up field with Clay collecting well then jinking his way past 3 defenders to dive over in the corner but losing control of the ball and knocking on when he should have scored.

Belper finally put points on the board following handling from the Nottinghamians forwards in the ruck and Blackwell kicked the penalty 20 yards out in front of the posts.

Nottinghamians woke up and started to press but with Watson and Emslie alert to the danger from the visitor's pacey outside centre, any breaks made were quickly quashed, and it was Emslie who scored the opening try of the game following good rucking and mauling from the front 5, the ball was moved downfield and with Emslie popping up in the inside centre position Blackwell spun a beautiful flat ball out to the on rushing Emslie who crashed through 2 tacklers to run in under the posts and Blackwell then converted to give Belper a 10-0 lead.

Belper then decided to self destruct from the kick off. Watson collected well and the ball was spun back to Blackwell whose kick was charged down with the visitor's 9 chasing the ball into the try area. Blackwell grabbed his shirt pulling him back, he then appeared to be shot as to look like he'd been tripped but the ref was wise to this giving the visitors a Penalty try which was converted. Following their opening 20 minutes dominance Belper were suddenly on the ropes and rather than in previous weeks letting heads drop Belper went back at the visitors and with Blackwell in fine kicking form 6 points were added via the boot before half time.

Half time 16-7

Belper pushed hard after the break and with Wilson running hard at 13 Belper continued to boss the visitor's defence with some hard crashing runs, Dakin crashed over following some hard runs from the forwards and with the ruck formed the tenacious prop picked up and burrowed over to extend Belper's lead, Blackwell converted from the angle to further the home side's lead to 14 points.

Meakin completed the scoring in the corner following some good mauling, with the ball stuck in the maul Rooney stepped in ripping his way to the ball then presenting it to Meakin at 9 who dummied a pass wide then stepped through a gap in the defence to dive over in the corner and give a long awaited victory 28-7

Belper's Director of Rugby praised the team's determination but warned that silly handling mistakes and concentration levels need to be worked on and improved if they want to climb up the league