This week started off with a rather ominous air about it. Phone call after phone call, text after text, email after email of lads unable to play. By Saturday morning we had 68 unavailables. By Saturday lunchtime we had managed to gather a side together with a couple of subs to boot and travelled to Rochdale with 17.

Rochdale's pitch was nicely trimmed and wide – perfect for our backs to open up their stride and give us what we needed.

Rochdale started proceedings with what can be summed up as a spooned grubber, if that's even possible! Fylde collected well however and set up to unleash a couple of waves of Viking forwards, namely Ross Andrews and Tom Maden-Wilkinson gaining vital yards. It wasn’t long before the first scrum came along in favour of the home side. It wasn’t to matter though as the Fylde pack, boasting an anchoring second row of Steve Stead and Adey Grey, bundled Rochdale off the put in. Ben Waller quickly dispersed the pill which was flung down the line to the rapid Alex Redfern to go over for Fylde's and his first try, nicely converted by Adam Smith, 0-7.

Rochdale received the ball and handed it over to their big 10 who didn’t seem too aggressive in attack nor defence despite his size and Smith made a good tackle to bring him down. Play was swiftly turned over only to then be adjudged to have held on too long on the deck and a penalty awarded to Rochdale.

Rochdale's line out was proving to be a little erratic as the ball missed the jumper by some way and landed in the grateful hands of Steady who gathered well only for it to be turned over somehow in the ensuing ruck. Rochdale broke down the wing and looked to be going over in the corner only for Sam Holliday to in the end easily catch the winger and tear him down.

Rochdale were proving to be quite a threat early on and produced another break gaining access to our 22, only for Fylde to turnover and Redfern open up again streaking down the wing, popping inside to Tom Shillito on his shoulder to go over for his first try, 0-12.

Straight away Fylde were back on the offensive, Alex Tonge breaking clear down the wing. Holliday was outside him and Shills was inside in support. The inside route was taken and Shillito went over to stretch the lead to 17 points. Conversion knocked over by Smith, 0-19.

The ever-improving Ben Waller was definitely on top form this afternoon, bringing down the big man at 10 with a crunching tackle, following up with the turnover and narrow recycling as Waller and Grey gain territory. Following a few good short phases the backs were fed the ball. Down the line it went to Redfern who flew down the wing yet again. Caught by the fullback and seemingly tackled only to shrug off whatever efforts were being made to stop him and touch down for his second right in the corner. Great line from Smith for the conversion but fell just short, 0-24.

Redfern was unfortunately struggling with his breathing and was replaced by strong winger Tim Firth as rolling subs were agreed.

Rochdale were given an opportunity to get off the dreaded zero but the penalty was hacked agonisingly wide. Rochdale were proving to be a handful again, and they suddenly broke only for a succession of smothering tackles prevented them from converting their chance. Rochdale were sustaining pressure well, pegging the Vikings deep in their 22.

A brief drinks break was followed up by Sam Bensky collecting and riding two tackles before being grounded and the half-time whistle being blown.

HALF-TIME – ROCHDALE 0-24 FYLDE VIKINGS

Redfern came back on the field as Shillito comes off with a stamped on hand.

Another big tackle from Waller halting Rochdale in their tracks but a penalty was awarded leading to their prop nearly crashing over, only a big double tackle stopping him, then driving the Rochdale man back five yards!

Fylde turn defence into attacked swiftly by a long kick from Adam Smith, knocked on by the defender leading to a scrum in the opposition 22. The pack was showing great strength today under the stewardship of Gregor Davidson. The pack worked hard to drive over the line, Jarrod Bowes getting the score, 0-29.

The big Rochdale 10 was fed possession from the back of a scrum on half-way but seemed bamboozled by Adam Smith's tackle, the loose ball being picked up by debutant Ryan Tweed who showed a fantastic turn of pace as he slowed to draw in the fullback and then put foot on the gas to completely outwit the defender, 0-34.

The Vikings were really showing their class today as Bowes broke off the back of a ruck and Firth ran a superb scissor only for the pass to be adjudged forward. Such a shame for such a fantastic move (which wasn’t forward!!).

Fylde were being pressured into quick ball out and Bensky took a decision he quickly regretted as he launched the ball deep. Realising he had to chase it down he quickly turned pace and bore down on the fullback only for him to completely miss the ball and had to back-track himself.

Fylde always seemed to be on the brink of pushing Rochdale into breakdown and the last 20 minutes finally wore them down. Sandy sprinting clear to score in the corner being the first of a quickfire few, converted by Smith, 0-41. Chris Sherrington then replaced Adey and was brought straight into action, coming off the back of a ruck in style to offload to the somewhat quiet Holliday (thus far) who cut inside the last man to score. Knocked over by Smith, 0-48.

Great break from the forwards showing their fitness and strength, Jamie Griffin running in from the 10m line to score in the corner handing the last man off as if he wasn’t there, 0-53!

The rout was almost complete as Holliday decided to go it alone down the wing and score in the corner, 0-58. Further pain was inflicted on a demoralised Rochdale as Redfern showed amazing strength breaking four tackles, offloading to Sandy who drew the tackle perfectly (getting smashed in the process!) before allowing Holliday to go in for his hat-trick try, 0-65.

FULL-TIME – ROCHDALE 0-65 FYLDE VIKINGS

A great and classy performance from the Vikings helps put the nightmare of Kirkby right to the gutter. Next week we have Kirkby as our guests entering the fortress that is the Woodlands, let us inflict revenge and continue our promotion push! This week the 'Big Hit Award' goes to Ben Waller for another outstanding all-round display, and the 'Man of the Match' is awarded to Ryan Tweed whose reading of the game especially around the ruck was hugely significant in our score.

VMT