U'15s: Preston Grasshoppers 10-10 Fylde

With the final fixture in the Blackstick Blue Lancashire group stages taking us to last year’s Champions and local rivals Preston Grasshoppers the squad travelled knowing that they needed a good result to have a chance of getting into the Cup knockout stages. Having closely assessed the problems experienced in games either side of Xmas break, the coaches took some brave decisions in their team selection, some of which were bordering on the risky side and raised a few eyebrows prior to the game.

With a very strong wind blowing straight up and down the very soft pitch, Hoppers won the toss and elected to play with the elements in their favour, hoping to build up a sizeable lead. The preparation for the game had seen the Fylde coaches stressing the important of taking the game to the opposition and closing down their space – and it was fantastic to see the lads take this onto the pitch.

From the kick off Fylde pressured Hoppers and quickly got excellent turnover ball. A series of powerful drives then led to the ball being swung left where Cam MacDonald made a powerful run before being halted just sort of the line. Quick ball and superb handling resulted in fellow winger Jake Dean sprinting over from the 22 to give Fylde the best possible start. Kicking into the howling gale, it was no surprise that further points did not come from the conversion.

Hoppers now realised that this was not going to be an easy game and, in an attempt to impose themselves, chose to run the ball at every opportunity rather than using their wind advantage through kicking. The Fylde lads were in no mood to give up their advantage and their defence was superb. The ferocity and intensity of their play forced Hoppers into handling errors on a number of occasions and the lads threatened to increase their lead on the counter attack, which were characterised by excellent phase play and decision making.

The Hoppers' desperate defence scrambled to prevent further damage and they battled their way back into the game. The final 10 minutes of the half resulted in incessant pressure from the home side and this was rewarded with a close range try by a Hoppers prop. The successful conversion gave Hoppers the lead and this increased to 10-5 following a penalty which Hoppers chose to kick rather than run, a testament to the sterling defence of the Fylde lads.

The coaches half time talk implored the boys for "more of the same" and with the wind behind them for the second half, Fylde took to the field hoping to cause a shock for the current County Champions. Fylde were encouraged to use the elements and play a territorial game hoping to pin Hoppers back and to a certain extent this worked.

With some indifferent kicking and Hoppers resolute defence, it was looking like the boys would not take anything from the game. With time ebbing away, the coaches called for one final effort to breach the Hoppers line and, in almost identical circumstances to the way they started the first half, several superb drives from the magnificent Fylde pack once again resulted in quick ball being released to the backs.

A superb offload from Elliot Fackey once again put Jake Dean away on the 22 metre line. With the home defence desperately trying to cover, the winger showed great pace and determination to dive over in the corner to level the scores. All that remained was for Fackey to slot another difficult conversion, this time with considerable wind assistance. Despite striking it well the ball drifted wide leaving the final score at 10-10.

The Coaches from both sides as well as the referee recognised what a good game it had been and reflected that it was a game that Fylde certainly didn't deserve to lose. It was a superb example of U15s rugby at this level that was played in excellent spirit and enjoyed by a sizeable and enthusiastic crowd. The Fylde lads now know that, with the effort they put in for this performance, they can compete at the highest level and have set the benchmark for themselves for the rest of the season.

The draw for the Cup has since been made and, subject to the result of a play-off game against Liverpool St Helens to be played at Fylde on 12th February, could see us again facing our local rivals in what would surely be a closely contested semi-final.

Graham Lanigan (Coach)