None of us could wait for the final to start despite the physical exhaustion of having played so many matches. The tension, nerves and excitement had every player itching to get stuck in and take on what proved to be a much larger team. As such, we decided to use different tactics and play to our strengths, using agility and speed to wear them down. At breakdowns the forwards won balls, gained possession and ground, broke through defence and aggressively took down York’s players while the backs used excellent ball handling skills, pace and quick thinking to bring the ball home. As the match progressed the team became more confident and with that came more and more tries. The best match we played in the tournament and a well deserved and fought for victory against the Canadians, earning us the inaugural Bingham Shield 2008.

“Adrenaline, belief and desire kicked in and what is the point in going into a final if your not going in with the desire to win”.

The Bingham Cup was an amazing experience for all who took part and helped cement in us the realisation that we have amazing potential as a rugby club, that our players are determined, steely and talented men who can achieve once what we have set out to do once we put our minds to it.

Some words from players who took part in the Bingham Cup;

“I’m very proud of that Shield, I’m very proud of everyone I’ve met on the team. It fills me with a lot of Pride, it’s all about the Team”

“We were the least likely to win it which means so much more to me, cos’ nobody expected us to bring it home”

“The shield isn’t just about winning, it’s about our whole experience of Bingham”

“It means so much to win the Shield, it’s our first win in anything big but for it to be this big and for it to be so incredibly meaningful, its just incredible”.

“It was the best thing I’ve ever done, joining the team that Tuesday night, was definitely one of the best things I’ve ever done in my life”.

With the Bingham Cup 2010 being so close it is with this same steely determination and enthusiasm that we look forward to taking part in and succeeding in the next tournament, a journey which we hope will touch us and inspire us as much as our previous journey did….. This journey is one we hope you can take part in too.