1st Pennant win over Sleaford 2nds

Bingham team - Nick Halstead 15, Will North 14, Tom Spibey 13,
Andrew Birznieks 12, Chris Garrod 11, Mick Challans 10, Tom Packer 9,
Jon Thomas (cpt) 8, Andy Watts 7, Chris Spibey 6, Ben McGill 5, Pete Mount 4, Dan Bartram 3, David Fairchild 2, Lee Stokoe 1 and on the bench, Neil Ellis & Gareth McGahan

Bingham kick off, play towards clubhouse in 1st half, into the wind and with a referee cancellation, coach Huw Thomas steps up to fill the breach.

Following early Bingham pressure Tom Packer kicks through, recovered by Andy Birznieks with a passing move through hands of Pete Mount, Lee Stokoe, finally to Chris Garrod on the wing, who chips it past the Sleaford defence to recover and score the first try of the game (and season) in the right corner of the field.
Conversion missed Score 5 – 0

15 mins into the game following a period of Bingham pressure Jon Thomas picks from the back of a ruck to drive over and score to the left hand side of the posts. Tom Packer kicks the conversion - 12 – 0. On 20 mins, Andy Birznieks makes a half break and passes inside to Tom Spibey who scores under the posts
Tom Packer kicks conversion - 19 – 0. On-going dominance from Bingham, Mick Challans kicks through from the ½ way line, the Sleaford winger collects and then miss kicks the ball leaving Pete Mount to pick up and score from 15 metres miss conversion, Score 24 – 0

30 mins with virtually their first attack of any meaning Sleaford score a penalty from in front of posts after Andy Watts penalised for going off his feet and killing the ball in the ruck. 24 – 3 Sleaford appear to think there is nothing to get from the game other than consolation even at this early stage.

Just inside the Sleaford half the ball breaks loose from a lineout, Dave Fairchild kicks on with Chris Spibey chasing just being passed by the Sleaford Scrum half who touches down behind the line. Try avoidance from Spibey who had a head start.

More Bingham pressure the ball breaks from a Sleaford scrum around their 22-metre line. Chris Spibey picks and drives and is tackled short by about a foot. Dave Fairchild seems to take an age to pick and drive but gets the 5 points. Tom Packer misses the kick. 29 – 3 (½ time)

During ½ time the heavens opened and for the rest of the game until last 15 mins intermittent rain including torrential rain.

2 mins into 2nd half try of the game, Sleaford kick through, Nick Halstead picks up around his 22, miss pass to Chris Garrod on the wing, who draws the winger and puts Andy Birznieks away to score covering three quarters of the pitch.
Tom Packer misses kick. 34 – 3

A change with Tom Spibey off and Neil Ellis on for first game for the club; Chris Garrod into centre with Neil Ellis onto right wing. Chris Spibey off Gareth McGahan on in the second row, Pete Mount to the flank

Further tries from Andy Birznieks, converted by Tom Packer and Ben McGill driving over from 5 metres again converted made the score 48 – 3 before Neil Ellis scores his first try from the club steam rolling over the Sleaford wing on the line – Tom Packer gets the kick 55 – 3

Try avoidance by David Fairchild who managed to run half the length of the field only to be tacked on the line and dropping the ball.

Final score 55 - 3

Some good if not great moments where the team played as one however numerous chances missed

The scrum and line outs were very solid although Sleaford held their own in this department as well, there was some good support work and Bingham retained their ball reasonably easily. At time the backs moved the ball with ease but the weather made the second half quite scrappy but a good result beating a Sleaford side who had played and won three friendly games this season already. Southwell 2nds next week will be a step up and continued improvement needed

Big thanks to Huw for refereeing, without him no game. Kept the game moving and was consistent.