Bingham Edge it at Amber Valley

Bingham travelled to Amber Valley to face a big pack and a side that had only lost once this season.

Bingham could not have got off to a better start with a solid scrum on the 10m, a quick pick up blind from Tim Allatt with Tom Packer & Lee Fretwell in support dragging the defence over allowed Tim to burst through and go the distance to score. Converted by Tom Packer 0 – 7. A break from a line out by Tom Packer feeds the backs and put back to the forwards but penalised for being over robust in the rucking department. Pete Mount was terrific in the line stealing ball and putting pressure on the Amber Valley ball. After 25mins, Amber Valley began piling the forward pressure on with a series of scrums close to the Bingham line. The first scrum picks and goes blind with Tom Packer tackling in the corner to save the try. A 2nd scrum pick and Paul Foster got beneath the ball to hold up and a 3rd drive to the line was turned back and then cleared by Tim Allatt after Bingham Scrum. Relief only short lived as from another scrum, Amber Valley pick and drive over. Conversion missed 5 – 7. Bingham replied matching the forward presence against them and after forcing a line out 5m out, a clean take from Tim Allatt and recycled ball but lost control on the 4th phase. Unfortunately losing control of the ball at critical times was the undoing for Bingham as just could not get enough clean ball for the backs to use but after the Amber Valley period of pressure earlier Bingham more than matched the opposition and the line was not threatened again up to half time.

A tense 2nd half with Bingham defending well and not allowing Amber Valley any scoring opportunities. Highlights of the 2nd half being a quick penalty take from Tom packer in own half supported by Lee Fretwell and chipping ahead some excellent high takes from Shawn Toomey at full back and continued line out control. The scrum matched the Amber Valley challenge and all subs played their part, Keith Lowthian, Andy Gill, Chris Mason, Jason Churchill and in the final 5 Ian Taylor. Tom Packer and Paul Foster kept the forwards moving forward and the ball in the opposition half and Tom Packer came close to scoring as he put pressure on the opposition scrum half in the AV 22 but despite this, Bingham could just not get enough clean possession and control the ball in critical periods of contact but in the end held firm to take the game after a scoreless 2md half 5 – 7.