Fylde, 3rd in National One, travel to old rivals and friends Tynedale on Saturday (ko 14.30) with the objective of winning on a ground where they were last successful in April 2004. Tynedale, as always, will provide very tough opposition given their open, free flowing style of rugby, in a similar fashion to Fylde.

Tynedale are one of the elite National League clubs in that they hardly know failure. They have finished high up in National One and before that in National Two (North) every season for a decade. Since their N2N championship campaign in 2007/8, they have had three very successful seasons finishing 4th, 5th and 5th in N1. For a small club based on the edge of England this is a fantastic achievement and a tribute to sound management and shrewd rugby policy.

They've have had a somewhat more mixed campaign this time although they sit comfortably in 7th place in the division. Tynedale Park in Corbridge has proved one of the most formidable grounds for visiting teams over the years yet they suffered three consecutive defeats there in September & October. Since then they've recovered their usual home consistency with four successive victories including a fine but narrow win against Macclesfield last time out (25-24). Their inconsistency was shown up in December when they lost heavily at struggling Wharfedale (5-39) and a week later demolished Sedgley Park (61-17) at home.

Fylde have found Tynedale somewhat of a bogey team in their many games since 2003. Although they won by 39-28 at the Woodlands in October in an exciting encounter, Fylde had lost six and drawn one of their previous seven league matches. Prior to October, the last time they beat the North Easterners was in February 2005, the replayed fixture following the abandoned game at the Woodlands in September 2004. This was caused by the tragic accident to prop forward Alistair Johnson early in the 2nd half of that match. The clubs were brought together by this awful event and over two years Fylde ran considerable fund raising functions for the trust fund that was established to assist in caring for Ali. Very sadly, Ali died four years later, in December 2008.

But Tynedale moved on as a club and in National Two (North) finished in 4th (2005/6), 2nd (2006/7) and finally 1st (2007/8). In coaching terms much credit must be given to long term Head Coach Tom Borthwick and more recently assisted by Ian Peel. The Club's rise over the years has been assisted substantially by a close relationship with Newcastle Falcons which has seen many of the Premiership club's young players 'dual registered' and deploying their skills at Tynedale Park in league action as well as for the Falcons. The number of players has declined in recent seasons but the relationship still remains with 'DRs' such as fly-half Joel Hodgson and lock Richard Boyle featuring in this campaign.

Fylde front rower Tom Lavelle played for Tynedale between 2007-2010 whilst at university in Newcastle before returning to the Woodlands for the 2010/11 promotion campaign. Another Fylde product, Kieran Brookes also played in the blue & white hoops whilst at Newcastle Falcons.

Guided by Tom Borthwick, Tynedale are well known throughout the National Leagues for their wide, attacking and dynamic game. They recruited strongly during the summer following the loss of some players at the end of the last campaign. The list includes Scotland Under-20s hooker David Cherry and centre Harry Mountain (both Northumbria University), fullback Chris Harris (Carlisle), prop Dave Dickinson (Morpeth), back-row Sam Northcote-Green (London Wasps), prop Alex Westgarth (Gosforth) & flanker Myles Scott (Westoe).

Of established members of the squad, the player most exemplifying Tynedale's open style is star fullback, wing or centre Hamish Smales, a former England cap at Under-18s, Universities, Counties and most recently at England 7s levels. Smales has great pace and has scored many, many tries for Tynedale as well as having a spell at Exeter Chiefs (& Launceston) whilst studying in the South West.

Other very dangerous backs include wingers Peter Cole, Allen Rogers & Matt Horrocks, centres Harry Mountain & Thomas Branwell and half-back pair of Matt Outson & either Harry Peck or Dominic Shaw. Goal kicking has been mainly shared between Outson and fit again Gavin Beasley, the former Falcons Premiership fly-half.

In the pack, the foundation is provided by props Andrew Harrison & Dave Dickinson, and hookers Stephen Ridley or David Cherry. Back five forwards include the ever present lock Graeme Dunn along with the returning stalwart and legendary brothers Andrew and Alistair Murray who have graced Tynedale line-ups for a decade. Flanker Grant Beasley and powerful no 8 Sam Shires are also regulars. But they have missed the highly impressive no 8 or lock Myles Scott who has been dogged with injury in the last two seasons.

Fylde  have had a two week break following the postponement of the home match with Cambridge last Saturday and will be anxious to get their campaign back on a winning track following two successive defeats against Blaydon & Barking. Steve Collins is given a start at fly half in place of Richard Kenyon whilst Mike Wayell returns to the centres. Steve McGinnis is available and starts at openside with Evan Stewart switching to blind.

Fylde: Royle, Briers C, Briers S, Waywell, Brennand, Collins, Depledge; Livesey, Roddam, Lavelle, Arnold, Rawlings, Stewart, McGinnis, Beaumont S (c)

Reps: Loney, Altham, Ferguson, Viney, Wallwork