LANCS Mini Festival Cup – Under 11s

20/11/2011

In their first Lancs Cup, the squad travelled to Vale of Lune to play the first of the three rounds in the competition, with two matches against Vale of Lune and secondly, Fleetwood.

Fylde 35 – 7 Vale of Lune

The game began well with Moore scoring after only 4 minutes. In some of their best rugby of the season, players then combined well to release the backs and score three more tries in 6 minutes - Heslop (x2) and Orosun, all tries converted by Clayton. The half ended with a Vale penalty near the Fylde line, but the charging run was driven back by the determined Fylde forwards, who ripped the ball and Linton kicked to touch.

The second half saw a determined Vale battle hard, but some good tackling and powerful runs from the forwards resulted, after 10 minutes, in a Fylde line out 5 metres from the Vale line. A good drive led to the ball being grounded over the line, not, however, before the whistle had gone – no try – held up. Soon after, a surging run from Hackett, breaking through several tackles led to the only Fylde score of the half (con. Clayton). With the final play of the game, Vale broke through several tackles to score, spoiling the clean sheet.

Fylde 42 – 0 Fleetwood (Half Time)

Having beaten Fleetwood earlier this season, belief among the team was high. An early Fleetwood scrum near their line was driven back. Hard tackling resulted in Fleetwood dropping the ball, and several Fylde players were on hand to ground the ball for the first try. In a display of good teamwork, driving runs, and some quick passing, further tries were added by Hackett, Richardson and 3 more from Heslop, Richardson converting all.

By half time, the score was 42 – 0 and under the RFU regulations, the match was officially brought to an end. So, the second half was played as a development game. In one of the most impressive moves of the day, a Fylde line out on half way saw the ball moved quickly among the backs and over the line in the far corner, only to be judged as not grounded properly. A further 3 tries were run in (King, Moore, Linton), and successfully converted (Clayton x2, Buckingham) while 2 other attempts were deemed to be held up (Gould, Moore). Fleetwood continued to work hard and only a covering tackle from Linton halted a fine Fleetwood run, preventing a last minute Fleetwood try.   Had the match not been ended at half time, the final score would have been Fylde 63 – 0 Fleetwood.

On the day, hard work and great team play from all players produced some exciting rugby and two decisive wins.

Squad:

Ted Acton, Max Buckingham, Will Carter, Reece Chadwick, Alex Clayton, Curtis Fletcher, Ben Gould, Sam Hackett, Nathan Heslop, Arran Hoey, Ben Kear, Rob King, Chris Linton, Harvey Moore, Dan Morris, Michael Orosun, James Parker, Jacob Richardson.