Mansfield 2nds 17 - 61 Bingham

2 late withdrawals (both hookers) meant a shuffle around with Sean Richardson moving from flank to hook.

Billed as a top of the table clash with both sides unbeaten Bingham quickly set a marker down as Ollie Brassington picked up a lovely chip through to score within 2 minutes. Tom Packer converts.

Up the Mansfield slope & into the wind & despite the cracking start, a tight opening 10 minutes follow until an opening for George Stewart to nip through. 0 – 12. Mansfield pull themselves back into it with a try on 20 minutes 5 – 12. A few dodgy minutes pass as we miss judge Mansfield clearances and let the ball bounce and we all know what happens when you let a rugby ball bounce but order was restored after a silky run from Jack Barnard and a delightful offload to Dan Egerton. Converted by Tom 5 – 19.

A screamer of a try from Tommy Besson on 32 minutes running half the length gets the try bonus and a conversion from Tom takes us into half time 5 – 26

Jack Barnard received a yellow just before half time for what we are not quite sure.

The 2nd half started with early Mansfield possession & a clearance kick straight to touch bringing the line out back close to our 22 from which Mansfield rumbled forward established some pressure and forced over within 2 minutes of the restart. 10 – 26

Within 5 minutes, field position was established & with the forwards creating pressure and tieing in defenders, Will Packer broke through from outside the Mansfield 22 getting to within meters of the line before the dreaded sniper appeared but Will was able to offload to George Stewart for his 2nd of the day & Tom added the conversion. That was the end of the afternoon for Will though with a pulled hamstring. 10 – 33

Pretty much as soon as Jack gets back on, Lee Fretwell gets a yellow for a high tackle, and, to their credit, Mansfield takes advantage & bounced back 20 minutes into the 2nd half with a 3rd try, converted 17 – 33. Just the wake-up call that was needed and from then Bingham took full control with Ben Jones weaving his way through a mass of Players to make it 17 – 38 and Tom once again adding the conversion.

A couple of great opportunities were then spurned until Jamie Graham, on for George Stewart who took a knock danced through and once again Tom added the extras, 17 – 47

Tommy Besson gets his 2nd , and Tom Packer again converts. The pressure is kept on and Mansfield are marched back 20 m by the ref but a quick tap & go is fumbled. That frustration though is erased as Jamie Graham finishes off receiving the ball and running through a tired defence with 5 mins to go. Tom Packer makes it 8 from 9 conversions. Chris Bell gets a yellow with 3 mins left on the clock for being over robust and driving through a ruck!!

Final score Mansfield 2nds 17 – 61 Bingham