Bingham travelled to Derby to play a Friday night league game under lights on the new artificial pitch and went behind early to 2 tries but clawed their way back into the game with a tremendous team performance and held on in the end despite suffering key injuries.

A penalty to Derby within 2 minutes puts the home side ahead and an Anthony Thomas penalty just wide failed to get Bingham back on terms. A 2nd penalty miss and Derby counter catching Bingham on the back foot and tremendous run saw the full back score in the corner 8 – 0.

Bingham take the ball back to Derby forcing some poor handling from Derby but a break from the Derby centre after recovering the ball saw a 2nd score for the home side from inside their own half. 10 mins and 15 – 0 down.

Bingham needing something to inspire them got it from Oscar Ciaurro taking the ball from a line out in his own half & made tremendous ground along the line and getting up to the 22m. Bingham kept the momentum and pressure following the break moving the ball wide and getting to Ben Packer who was taken high and a penalty try awarded 15 – 7

Lineout pressure and a secure ball then allowed Oscar Ciaurro to peel off and get the 2nd score. However, in process of scoring, Anthony Thomas suffers a shoulder injury & is replaced by Will Packer whose 1st action was to slot the conversion 15 – 14

Derby replied taking a scrum against the head and from the ensuing pressure Bingham are penalised and Derby extend the lead 18 – 14

The next Bingham attack broke down with a wild pass but Ben Sansom recovered the ball having gone back 15m and made a terrific run to get to within 10m and a penalty from Will Packer and back to within 1 point.

A further run from Ben Sansom and Adam Deal pressing in the corner and the forwards did the rest as Harry Lister drove over. Will Packer added the conversion 18 – 24 and Bingham in the lead

The 1st half ended with a 2nd key player, George Stewart having to leave the field HT 18 – 24

The 2nd half started well with Bingham maintaining territory, forcing a Derby penalty which was run but fluffed. A serious hand injury to Harry Lister meant a 3rd key change but Nathan Hartland comes on and has a great impact on the game and mitigates Harry’s loss.

Derby force a penalty to get within 3 points and a missed tackle from the Ko allows Derby to break through and get a try in the corner 26 -24

Will Packer switches the direction of the restart and Ben Packer recovers the kick and Bingham get a Penalty and put it to the corner. Bingham fails to convert but Derby get a yellow card. Derby hold firm and repel attacks and a key decision from Bingham to go for a line out and not a scrum or kick appeared costly when a 2nd lineout was lost

With 10min remaining, a penalty on the 10m line and Will Packer slots to get the momentum & lead back 26 – 27

Derby launch a series of attacks which are defended valiantly and Derby suffer the loss of their No10 at a key stage.

Bingham regains possession and composure and keep the final 3mins of the game in the Derby Half to secure a really hard-fought win 26 – 27 against a strong Derby team and learnt a lot in adversity early on and recognised quickly the need to close down Derbys quick and hard runners on what is a very big pitch.

A well-managed performance limiting the penalty count and with the forwards looking after the ball better and posing a real threat in the scrums

Check Wills Game winning kick

http://www.binghamrufc.co.uk/videos/game-winning-kick-at-derby-134787.html

A challenge now having lost 3 players due to injury and several others carrying knocks by the end

However, a terrific experience for the team to play on the artificial pitch and the weekend off before preparing to travel to Stamford College Old Boys next Saturday in the NLD Cup