Bingham get the result with a battling 2nd half display to win away at Newark 3rds

Bingham travelled to Newark in great spirit after last weeks win. Although Tom Packer returned after suffering cracked rib 3 weeks ago, still without key players and this week had Lee Stokoe playing 2 rows back in the back row and Chris Spibey helping out the backs. Coach Thomas was also away in Estonia and a threadbare bench indebted to Jason Churchill, Andy Towers & Steve Bartram but Bingham come away with a bonus point away win to keep pushing for top spot.

Good early Bingham control kept play in the Newark half straight from the start and saw Lee Fretwell get over the line helped by Andy Watts only to be adjudged to have been held up.

Following a scrum the ball was kept close to the forwards and from recycled ball Chris Bell gets the opener after 10 minutes. The lead was almost extended after an Anthony Thomas drop goal went just wide.

All the play was coming from Bingham and after a line out steal from Jonathan Thomas, a forward drive a pick up from Tom Packer and a chip over the defence and he wins the race to the line. 10 – 0 and looking good.

A scrum against the head on the Newark 22 caught Lee Stokoe by surprise in the back row led to Newark stealing the ball and breaking almost the length of the pitch before some last ditch tackling.

With 30 mins gone this signalled the beginning of a shaky 10 mins as Dan Bartram came off with a back injury. Andy Towers came on to full back, Chris Spibey moved into the pack and Gareth Mcgahan moved from 2nd row to prop as Lee Stokoe was carrying a sore neck.

A kick into open space was collected by Newark deep in own half and possession quickly returned by the centre and with the defence backing off allowed him space to run all the way to score. Missed conversion and half time came with Bingham leading 10 – 5.

Newark brought on several subs and Bingham started the 2nd half as they finished the 1st and almost suffered a catastrophe from the kick off as no one took command and made a complete mess of it putting themselves under unnecessary pressure but eventually got the ball clear.

Newark sensed the opportunity as some loose Bingham play allowed the Newark backs to get the ball wide and score in the corner. Missed conversion and tensions rising in the Bingham camp 10 – 10.

Although struggling to get control, the spirit and confidence gained from recent performances slowly came back with the backs ensuring no further Newark back moves broke the line and a few attacks then turned the tables and put the pressure back on Newark and kept them pinned in their own half.

A scrum 20m out and an outrageous dummy from Tom Packer opened the defence for him to run in almost unopposed. The conversion added 17 – 10.

More pressure with Jonathan Thomas and Andy Watts taking the ball on and just when we expected Tom Packer to go for the line, the ball went wide with the backs before Newark conceded a penalty which was duly slotted over by Tom Packer 20 – 10.

Bingham closed the game out for a fantastic win

There were some big performances from all the players as we had to dig deep after being put under pressure and some good honest hard-working performances which we really needed.