Belper Travelled to Wigston not knowing much about the team
they were playing and what to expect, and on arrival realising they used the
Leicester Tigers Training ground to play their home games, some of Belpers
players could have been forgiven for feeling a little nervous.
Belper's side missing 8 of the previous weeks first team welcomed in Charlie
Watson and Dom Robinson from the Colts team and gave a first team debut to
Peter Dyer, other players played out of position and Belper travelled with
no subs, so with all those excuses Belper may have been weakened.
Belper recieved the kick off and straight away realised the home team's tactic
with Peter Dyer being knocked off the ball in mid air before he had caught
it and with the referee being unsighted play carried on. Belper just took
it on the chin and supported well working the ball well in the tight and crashing
back in towards the pack from centres Holmes and Tennick when the ball moved
wide. Belper nearly opened the scoring with Robinson taking a quick tap and
running at the home side's defence, stepping through a gap passing out to
Emslie on the wing, who stepped in-field to pop to Adams who in turn popped
the Ball to the on running Tennick. Tennick was unable to collect the ball
and knocked on short of the line.
The ball was soon down field from a long defensive kick and following pressure
Bennion put the ball into touch for the lineout, the home side rallied and
the ball was run back towards the pack from centre, then fed out wide and
three tacklers failed to stop the charge of the home team's number 8 who dived
into the corner to take the lead 7-0
Belper had a few choice words with one and another and got back to business.
Minutes later the ball was shifted wide to Bennion who outpaced two defenders
then popped the ball wide to Gray who sprinted in from 30 yards to score right
of the posts and Blount slotted from the angle 7-7
The Home side again hit Belper with an off the ball tackle from the kick off
with Dyer being hit before the ball had been caught. Again the ref was unsighted.
Ferocious tackling from Watson and Skivington kept the home side out and Belper
scored their second try. Blackwell kicked long down field out of defence and
as the full back picked up Robinson tackled him backwards causing him to knock
on giving Belper a scrum in the 22 near the corner. Meakin span the ball wide
to Blackwell who stepped past his opposite number and threw himself over the
line under the posts, Blount slotted again and Belper led 14-7
Belper were now cruising every time the home side moved forward Watson was
there, mullering attackers with York and Dyer quickly in support. Belper extended
their lead just before half time with a superb try from Gray, following good
rucking from the forwards the ball was spun from Meakin out to Blackwell who
punted the ball wide left over the winger's head with Gray chasing it down,
the ball bounced over the try line and Gray dived onto it just before it could
go out to give the visitors a 19-7 half time lead.
The second half saw Belper create more chances but they lost Bennion to injury
5 minutes in and playing 14 against 15 only managed to add two penaltys from
the boot of Blount and with 10 minutes to go conceded a bizzare try when,
as a ball was kicked down field Blackwell tried to drop on it and the attacker
running past him tripped over Blackwell with 40 yards to run and the much
quicker Gray tracking him the referee still saw it fit to award a penalty
try????? giving the home side a 21-17 final score which flattered a little
but Belper were delighted with the result with all three debutants being praised,
Watson, Dyer and Robinson sharing the man of the match award