Bingham travelled to West Bridgford to play under the lights on Friday with as strong a team as we have had for a while. The game was played under excellent conditions for running and open rugby and great to see a large contingent of supporters had made the short journey to support.

Straight from the kick off Bingham were on the attack with some great runs from Ben Mcgill, Jonathan Thomas and Andy Watts, but all to no avail as a resolute Bridgford defence held Bingham at bay. Bingham controlled the possession and territory with some excellent scrimmaging, on the 1st Bridgford scrum the Bingham eight shunted the Bridgford pack back some 10 yards and with Ben Mcgill and Jonathan Thomas stealing and winning lineout ball the dangerous looking Bridgford backs were not given the opportunity to show their skills.

Bingham were playing at a frantic pace but quite often players were isolated, then conceding penalties which allowed the opposition to clear their lines. Bingham continues to pressure the Bridgford line and on his 2nd attempt Tom Packer put Bingham ahead with a penalty.

Bridgford came back and from a scrimmage steal and a lapse in the Bingham defence the scrum half ran through untouched to score from the half way, 5 - 3. Straight from the kick off Bingham were straight back on the attack and were again pressurising the Bridgford line but could not cross the whitewash for that vital score. HT came frustrated behind 5-3.

The second half started the same as the 1st with Bingham straight on the attack with both Anthony Thomas and Tom Packer kick astutely into the corners to keep the pressure on Bridgford. Something had to give and from another excellent scrum on Bridgford ball Andy Watts pounced on the loose ball and when the ball finally came toJonathan Thomas he burst through the remaining tacklers to score under the posts, Tom Packer converted 10 – 3.

Confidence grew and form a lineout in the Bridgford 22, Bingham drove towards the line and from the ruck Anthony Thomas fed Chris Garrod to score from a pre planned move Tom Packer converted 17 – 5. Bingham were now under total control but still Bridgford battled hard and tried to run the ball at every opportunity, but the Bingham defence held strong.

The confidence of the 2 tries and Bingham were on the hunt for the bonus point and it duly came with 3 further tries, Tom Packer, Tom Spibey and Will North.

Changes were made in the last 15 minutes with Chris Bell and Tom Didsbury replacing Dan Bartram and Dave Fairchild, Neil Ellis for Lee Fretwell, Ian Taylor replaced Nick Green, Gareth Mcgahan for Jonathan Thomas. FT 32 – 5.

An excellent performance against a determined Bridgford 15. However, still lessons to learn and improvement to come – A 1st half where individuals kept getting isolated but in the 2nd the forwards continued the pressure but going forward with the ball carrier having support and keeping control enabling Bingham to score 5 tries and not concede in the 2nd half.