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Fylde will be on a mission when they welcome old friends and rivals Harrogate to the Woodlands on Saturday (ko 15.00). Fourth in National Three (North), Fylde will be looking to dispatch bogey team 'Gate in a decisive fashion. And Club officials are hoping for a big crowd to cheer them on, encouraged not only by a growing confidence in the squad but for the manner of their open, adventurous play which has brought an average of 34 points in each of their five league games to date, the highest in the division by far.

But the Yorkshiremen have won eight out of the last ten games between the clubs, including all five at Claro Road. It was Fylde's disastrous 9-14 defeat at the Woodlands in January which so undermined their promotion charge last season so they will be keen to exact revenge.

Harrogate have made a mixed start to this season, in 6th place in the division, with three wins against Bradford (28-11), Preston (27-8) & Huddersfield (27-20) being followed by two defeats at promotion contenders Leicester Lions (14-35) and last Saturday at home to Nuneaton (17-23). But they have a strong squad and Fylde will expect the most testing of afternoons.

Harrogate have spent just one season in N3N having been relegated from National Two at the end of the 2006/7 campaign. 'Gate is a fine club, founded almost 50 years before Fylde in 1871, but which has suffered financially in recent seasons. This has been in part due to a prolonged and as yet unresolved dispute about the location of a new ground and moving away from Claro Road involving planning and other difficulties.

Mike Aspinall, 25 year old former Leeds Collegiate, Otley & Saracens scrum-half, is 'Gate's full time player-coach and is assisted by tough former Doncaster no 8 Ryan Peacey. If Harrogate is generally Fylde's bogey side then they must have nightmares about long serving fullback and current skipper Ed Smithies who has scored so many tries against the Lancastrians over more than a decade that they can hardly be counted!

Aspinall has rung the personnel changes this season with 32 players already appearing in league games. They recruited heavily during the summer including goal kicking former Leeds Carnegie & Scotland U'20s fly-half James Murray, scrum half Robert Green (Consett), flanker James Taggert (Leeds Carnegie Academy), hooker Aaron Yorke (Beverley) and prop Phillip Swainston, Leeds Carnegie & England U'18, who is available up until Christmas.

One newcomer who won't feature on Saturday is flanker David Dougherty (ex-Belfast Harlequins) who sustained a nasty neck injury in the first half against Leicester. He received lengthy on-field treatment before being taken away by ambulance - best wishes to him from everyone at the Woodlands.

Apart from Smithies and Aspinall, the star of their backline is former Blaydon & Wakefield centre or fly-half Nick Wainwright, a very creative player who can also kick goals. James Murray has assumed principal kicking duties however and has made a great start with, until the last game, a 100% record.

According to the Harrogate Advertiser, "Captain Smithies is looking forward to the contest but is wary of tomorrow’s opponents who have home advantage and a hostile crowd to cheer them on." Few would call the Woodlands faithful 'hostile' but maybe they'll live up to that charge on Saturday.

Fylde name 21 players for the game, the same 20 that won at Halifax plus fullback Mike Waywell who has missed four matches and will have a late fitness test on his injured foot.:

15 Martin Wallwork; 14 Nick Royle, 13 Tom Albinson, 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 Andrew Irving, 17 Chris Tyms, 18 Dan Palmer, 19 Grant Ferguson, 20 David Wiseman. Plus Mike Waywell.

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Match sponsors are long established Club business partner Napthens Solicitors (01772 888 444), a multi disciplined legal practice structured into specialised departments operating from centres of excellence in Preston, Blackburn, Chorley and the Fylde. Napthens prides itself on being the legal practice of choice for businesses and individuals across the North West and beyond. It continues to embody traditional professional values, whilst embracing the best modern business practices. With a proud heritage stretching back over two centuries, Napthens' legal practice today offers a broader range of services and represents a greater variety of clients than ever before. Its one of the oldest established practices in the region.

Fylde Rugby Club is extremely grateful for Napthens' continuing support and we hope that they and their guests have an great afternoon at the Woodlands.
 

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Statistical summary, courtesy of Statbunker

Attacking stats: Harrogate & Fylde

Defensive stats: Harrogate & Fylde

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