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Belper recorded their second league win of the season with a hard fought win over Ashby in dreadful conditions at 'Strutts fields'. The hard work put in by the ground staff before the game was rewarded when the referee gave the go ahead fifteen minutes before the kick off. Belper started the game at a tremendous pace and showed a commitment to a wide handling game plan. Belper pressure was converted into points by Paul Buzzard, after a flowing move through the back division starting at the full-back, Paul Hastings, and great handling by fly half Jon Holmes with the scorer injecting pace over the last 20 yards to cap a fine move, Steve Dymond narrowly missed his opportunity to convert. Ashby then started to get more into the game as the half wore on and it was from an Ashby attack that Belper scored there second try, after the forwards led by Mick Laven allowed 'Merv' Holmes to move up field to set the attacking move, and for Jon Holmes to split the visitors defence line from 30 yards out and score. A more difficult conversion was missed making the half time score 10 nil.

Belper started the second half in fine style and in a well fought battle came out on top after Paul Hastings, who controlled the high ball from the visitors 'bomb' all afternoon, made a majestic counter attacking run, passing the ball to 'Merv' Holmes, and with good supportive running from Rick Bartrum, who received the final pass, scoring his first try for Belper. Belper then had a try disallowed after excellent play from all 15 men when Lee Bradshaw went over but a pass was ruled forward and the try was disallowed. Ashby then decided to make life difficult for the last 10 minutes of the game when some hard forward play and a sleepy defence allowed the visitor to score a consolation try under the posts giving an easy conversion for the fly half to rack up 7 points for the visitors. After the game Belper coach, Christian Barden said, " I feel everyone had a good game today, and we showed the commitment to the style of rugby we are now playing at Belper despite the conditions. With a second solid win under our belt, the club can feel confident about what we are doing with our rugby from the Mini's and Juniors, and at all levels of rugby at the club. There is plenty more to do in defence and set plays and we will keep that the focus of our training sessions".


BELPER 1st XV, V ASHBY 1st XV Belper recorded their second league win of the season with a hard fought win over Ashby in dreadful conditions at 'Strutts fields'. The hard work put in by the ground staff before the game was rewarded when the referee gave the go ahead fifteen minutes before the kick off. Belper started the game at a tremendous pace and showed a commitment to a wide handling game plan. Belper pressure was converted into points by Paul Buzzard, after a flowing move through the back division starting at the full-back, Paul Hastings, and great handling by fly half Jon Holmes with the scorer injecting pace over the last 20 yards to cap a fine move, Steve Dymond narrowly missed his opportunity to convert. Ashby then started to get more into the game as the half wore on and it was from an Ashby attack that Belper scored there second try, after the forwards led by Mick Laven allowed 'Merv' Holmes to move up field to set the attacking move, and for Jon Holmes to split the visitors defence line from 30 yards out and score. A more difficult conversion was missed making the half time score 10 nil. HALF TIME- BELPER 10 ASHBY 0 Belper started the second half in fine style and in a well fought battle came out on top after Paul Hastings, who controlled the high ball from the visitors 'bomb' all afternoon, made a majestic counter attacking run, passing the ball to 'Merv' Holmes, and with good supportive running from Rick Bartrum, who received the final pass, scoring his first try for Belper. Belper then had a try disallowed after excellent play from all 15 men when Lee Bradshaw went over but a pass was ruled forward and the try was disallowed. Ashby then decided to make life difficult for the last 10 minutes of the game when some hard forward play and a sleepy defence allowed the visitor to score a consolation try under the posts giving an easy conversion for the fly half to rack up 7 points for the visitors. After the game Belper coach, Christian Barden said, " I feel everyone had a good game today, and we showed the commitment to the style of rugby we are now playing at Belper despite the conditions. With a second solid win under our belt, the club can feel confident about what we are doing with our rugby from the Mini's and Juniors, and at all levels of rugby at the club. There is plenty more to do in defence and set plays and we will keep that the focus of our training sessions". FINAL SCORE- BELPER 15 ASHBY 7 Man of the match-; Jon Holmes.

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.