Derby travelled to Liberty Lane, to start the second half of the season, looking to return to winning ways after consecutive defeats.
Jeri Oldfield returned to the front row in the only change to the starting XV.
Derby kicked off in the pouring rain, playing uphill in the first half.
Only 3 minutes had elapsed when Derby took the lead. A good attack saw the ball moved wide. Jeri Oldfield took the move on and fed Lewis Hancock who scored in the corner. A superb conversion from Josh Bingham took Derby 7 points clear.
Nuneaton hit back 7 minutes later. A series of forward drives led to a try. The conversion was successful and tied the score.
The rain continued to fall, making running rugby difficult as the ball resembled a bar of soap.
Derby were beginning to get on top and another good forward drive led to the 2nd try. Josh Tizard spotted the gap, took the ball and scored.
A Callum Jones yellow card gave Nuneaton an opportunity which they took, 6 minutes before the break, when forward drives resulted in a try. The conversion was missed, leaving Derby 12-10 ahead at the break.
Derby started the 2nd half well. Sam Tebbs was held up over the Nuneaton try line, after just 3 minutes. The Nuneaton drop out went straight into touch, gifting Derby a 5m scrum. Sam Tebbs picked up, off the back of the scrum and powered over to score. Josh Bingham added the conversion.
After 58 minutes, Derby extended their lead with the bonus point try. Jake Roome sprinted clear. Josh Bingham took the ball on and was stopped just short. The ball was recycled and Patrick Burke finished by touching down in the corner.
4 minutes later, Nuneaton lost a player to the sin bin and Josh Bingham kicked the resulting penalty.
A late try from Nuneaton, with Guy Bowley in the sinbin, finished the scoring.
A very pleasing and well-deserved victory, leaves Derby in 5th place with 8 wins from 12 games.
Oundle are the visitors to Haslams next week.
Come on Derby !
Report by: R.Bambra