Fylde v Huddersfield preview: latest team news
Promoted from North One following a play-off win against Luctonians back in April at their neat Lockwood Park ground, the visitors face their first ever season in the national leagues. The rugby club is part of a mixed sporting club that embraces hockey, running, squash and bowling. Interestingly, the Club claims to have founded mini-rugby in England in 1969. After playing many years at Waterloo, it bought Lockwood Park in 1997 where they have four rugby pitches plus an all-weather pitch with parking for 300 cars. The main floodlit pitch has a capacity of 1500 with seating for 500 and adjoins the clubhouse which is open every evening and all day on Saturdays and Sundays with full catering available. Altogether, they field four senior teams plus Academy, Junior and Mini sections and they work closely with Huddersfield University RUFC and Leeds Carnegie.
Their successful promotion campaign last season was led by highly experienced Director of Rugby, coach & skipper Mark Sowerby, who joined the club when Wakefield folded. He's assisted by another former Wakefield RU & RL favourite, backs coach Neil Summers and Yorkshire, Otley, Doncaster & Wakefield backrower Glen Wilson who has had to retire at 31 because of a persistent back problem. Sowerby, too, has decided to call it a day on a distinguished playing career. "That’s it for me as far as playing is concerned. Obviously I will never see the team short. If I’m needed in an emergency, I’ll turn out, but to all intents and purposes, I’m a coach.
Speaking to the Huddersfield Examiner, Sowerby said: “I would be lying if I said we could win the League, and equally we have no ambitions of setting the League alight,” confessed Sowerby. But we are definitely not just there to make up the numbers, and although it is going to be a huge challenge for the club, we are undoubtedly looking forward to it.”
However, he does confess that Huddersfield face the toughest possible start on Saturday when they travel to Lytham St Annes to play Fylde. "We need to get off to a good start, but undoubtedly Fylde will be a really hard challenge as I expect them to be in the top bracket in our league this season. "
They will be relying pretty much on the squad of players that won the club promotion last season. The most notable arrival is veteran former American international lock Luke Gross. Gross has played in two World Cups as well as the English Premiership with Rotherham & Newcastle Falcons but won’t be available until October due to recouperation from shoulder surgery. The 38-year old, 19st & 6'9", has most recently been with Doncaster and planned to retire at the end of last season. But Sowerby has persuaded him to extend a long playing career which has also seen him play at Harlequins, Roma & Llanelli. Departures from the playing squad include Tim Collins who has gone to Australia and Hamish Pratt to Ilkley RUFC.
Sowerby is backing Nick Sharpe to make a big success of succeeding him as Huddersfield's No8. Sharpe came through the Huddersfield’s academy system but played for Rugby Lions while away at university. He has played at lock and flanker in the past, and now has both the sized and mobility required to be a good No8. Other important members of a hard working pack include a tough front row of props Anthony Springwell & Jim Howard and hooker James Davies, and free scoring flanker Mark Whitehead.
Amongst their backs, they have an experienced half-back pairing in scrum-half Damian Clayton and goal kicking fly-half Chris Johnson who was top scorer last season with 188 league points. Johnson's brother, Matt, has just returned to the game following many years out and may join him in the backline. Another pair of brothers, Lee & Ben Paxman may feature in the line-up together with tyro scrum-half Tom Ainsworth who moved to full-back recently following impressive displays in pre-season games against Beverley and Chester.
Huddersfield’s defence was the bedrock of their success last season, conceding just 255 points in their 22 North I League matches (an average of 11.5 per game) which helped them to 19 victories and their highest-ever placing in the club’s history.
Huddersfield's preliminary line-up is: 15 Tom Ainsworth; 14 Adam Sutcliffe, 13 Ben Paxman, 12 Lee Paxman, 11 Alex Shaw; 10 Chris Johnson, 9 Damian Clayton; 1 Jim Howard, 2 Chris Gough, 3 Tony Stringwell, 4 Ben Harris, 5 James Bodworth, 6 George Hinchliff, 7 Mark Whitehead (c), 8 Nick Sharpe. Replacements: 16 Jack McPhail, 17 James Davies, 18 James Mortimore, 19 Gavin Rhodes.
Fylde name an experienced 20 man squad for the game. New Australian centre Dan Loader hasn't received his visa in time to be registered for league action so the partnership of Neil Hunter and David Wiseman plays at centre. The other newcomer is flanker Dan Palmer who is named amongst the replacements.
Otherwise, the team is at full strength.
15 Mike Waywell; 14 Nick Royle, 13 David Wiseman, 12 Neil Hunter, 11 Oliver Brennand; 10 Steve Nutt, 9 Craig Aikman; 1 Sam Simpson, 2 Alan Holmes, 3 Darren Clark, 4 Nick King, 5 Roger Banks, 6 Dan Bowman, 7 Dave WIlks, 8 Sam Beaumont.
Replacements: 16 Adam Lewis, 17 Chris Tyms, 18 Dan Palmer, 19 Mark Edwards, 20 Martin Wallwork.
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Match officials are referee Guy Steele-Bodger and touch judges Steve Halliday & Daren Beeden.
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Match sponsor
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