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Belper's disappointing start to the season continued with defeat in their second league game. However the performance was a marked improvement upon the display against Dronfield the previous week. Casuals had begun their league campaign with a sixty point win over Aylestonians and were expecting another comfortable victory. Belper's team, with four changes from the Dronfield game began positively setting out their intentions to run the ball hard and straight at every opportunity. This was matched by Casuals well organised defence and it was they whom opened the scoring with a try after a charged down kick near the Belper line. Belper struck back in fine style recycling the ball well allowing Steve Dymond to make a break on the blindside of a ruck He linked with Mike French who was tackled just short of the line. The ball was again quickly recycled and the ever reliable Andy Laven, showing great pace for a veteran, left three defenders before scoring a try which was converted to make it 7 each. Towards the end of the first half Casuals exploited the space on the blindside of a scrum to score another converted try to make the score 14-7 at the interval. Belper needed to score early in the second half and that's exactly what they did. Full back Dean 'Vulch' Cliff fielded a clearance kick and made some forty yards before linking with Dymond who popped the ball inside to the impressive Alex Skivington who scored his first league try. This made the score 14-12. Belper spent the remainder of the second half camped in the Casuals half. Tim Yule was again highly effective in the lineout and there were some punishing tackles being put in by Mike French and Craig Tennick. However Belper never managed to break the Casuals defence and were consigned to defeat.


Nottingham Casuals 14 Belper 1st XV 12 Belper's disappointing start to the season continued with defeat in their second league game. However the performance was a marked improvement upon the display against Dronfield the previous week. Casuals had begun their league campaign with a sixty point win over Aylestonians and were expecting another comfortable victory. Belper's team, with four changes from the Dronfield game began positively setting out their intentions to run the ball hard and straight at every opportunity. This was matched by Casuals well organised defence and it was they whom opened the scoring with a try after a charged down kick near the Belper line. Belper struck back in fine style recycling the ball well allowing Steve Dymond to make a break on the blindside of a ruck He linked with Mike French who was tackled just short of the line. The ball was again quickly recycled and the ever reliable Andy Laven, showing great pace for a veteran, left three defenders before scoring a try which was converted to make it 7 each. Towards the end of the first half Casuals exploited the space on the blindside of a scrum to score another converted try to make the score 14-7 at the interval. Belper needed to score early in the second half and that's exactly what they did. Full back Dean 'Vulch' Cliff fielded a clearance kick and made some forty yards before linking with Dymond who popped the ball inside to the impressive Alex Skivington who scored his first league try. This made the score 14-12. Belper spent the remainder of the second half camped in the Casuals half. Tim Yule was again highly effective in the lineout and there were some punishing tackles being put in by Mike French and Craig Tennick. However Belper never managed to break the Casuals defence and were consigned to defeat.

Belpers major fund raising campaign continues at pace with a club calendar going on sale for 2002 with all proceeds towards the 'National Lottery' bid for the new clubhouse and community centre and can be purchased at 'Amberstat' and 'Hair Design', both on Bridge Street, Belper, with other outlets in the town being explored.