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of vital Lydney game Fylde start a three match sequence this Saturday that could have a significant bearing on how the season turns out. Lydney (Woodlands, KO 2.30pm) are level on points with Fylde, and we then travel to Nottingham and Preston Grasshoppers, the two sides immediately above us in the National Two table. Three successive defeats (one in the Tetley Cup against Manchester) have been a big setback to the Club. Three wins would set us up nicely for Christmas and the New Year but we will have to be on our mettle to reach that goal. Lydney will have been encouraged by their narrow 18-16 home win over struggling Camberley last week which followed hot on the heels of the Severnsiders’ first away success of the season when they beat West Hartlepool by 18-13. Their other win so far this season was at home to Kendal in September and they will be determined to keep the momentum of the last couple of weeks going on Saturday. For Neil Withington's recent history on the matches between Fylde and Lydney, click here. For background on Lydney, go to their web site at: http://romandelta.com/LydneyRFC/ The Fylde side shows a couple of changes from the Harrogate fixture. Mark Evans replaces Chris Jones at inside centre and Carl Lavin returns in place of Mike Bradwell who is on the bench. 15: Ben Godfrey
14: Damien Lavin 13: Richard Kenyon 12: Mark Evans 11:
Greg Anderton 10: David Wiseman 9: Lawrence Condon 8:
Mike Dreyer 7: Carl Lavin Reps: 16: Jon Webster. 17: Mike Bradwell/Jon Taylor. 18: Mike MacFarlane. Mark Nelson will have taken heart from Fylde’s performance against table topping Harrogate last Saturday even though it ended in defeat. We have shown repeatedly that we can live with the best in this division and Mark will no doubt be seeking the kind of consistency needed to climb away from the lower reaches. Nelson said "In parts, we played as well as we have done all season and, although the referee made what we consider a howler of a decision for one of the tries, we made three schoolboy errors which we will need to address before the Lydney match." Fylde are, it must be remembered, only two points behind sixth placed Wharfedale. Debutant lock Richard Wilson, the former Wakefield and Pocklington second row, received particular praise from Nelson. "He is getting there in terms of fitness, and he is clearly a player who knows what he is doing". What is really disappointing about the last few seasons is the occurrence of so few handsome victories. Apart from the 44-8 win over Blackheath in January last year, its difficult to remember Fylde giving another team a real beating. This lack of dominance against lesser teams is frustrating for everyone - players, officials and supporters alike. It would be really good if, for once, the Club's loyal crowd could relax watching the points mount up, rather than the usual nail biting that accompanies victories and defeats. Other
matches this weekend are: Fylde II. V. New Brighton
II....Away. Our
next home match is on 9th December when Rosslyn Park
are our visitors. Musty's Samoan debut Mussolini
Schuster, ex-pupil of Rossall School and Fylde 1st
teamer last season, made his senior Samoan debut on
Tuesday evening playing for the Samoan second string side
against Scotland 'A' in Perth. The Samoans went down by
37-24. Samoa, who are on tour in the UK, have been hit by
the withdrawal of a number of senior players due to a pay
dispute. Good luck Musty! Social news Christmas Draw Members should by now have received their tickets for the annual Mammoth Christmas Draw. This is a major fund raiser for Fylde and President, Graham Sharman has issued the rallying call to everyone associated with the club “to sell as many tickets as possible to friends, colleagues at work, and customers, so that we have a bumper Millennium Draw.” Top prize is £500 cash with over sixty other quality prizes generously donated by members with the draw taking place on Sunday 17th December from 1.30pm onwards in The Clubhouse and followed by Jazz on a Winters Day (3.00pm) and the 250 Club Special Winter Draw. Should be a great afternoon. Articles about the Club for the Match Programme & Web Site Any article or item relating to Fylde in any way is very welcome for inclusion in the match programme, and will be replicated on the web site. Either contact Neil Withington on 01772 682247 after 6.30pm any weekday or leave your article in the club office marked for his attention. Players’ Barrel Sponsor of the Players’ Barrel at the home match with Lydney is Robert Pinkus, with Brian Barnard and Ray Woolley sponsoring the next two. Our thanks to them and to all others who have so far sponsored a barrel this season. If you would like to add your name to the list of sponsors for the barrel, which is freely available to all players each Saturday, £50 secures your name in lights. To book your place just contact Sue or Mike on 01253 735733. Taps Travel After
the Lydney match we have away trips to Nottingham
and the big derby match at Preston Grasshoppers to
look forward to. The Taps will be offering their usual
quality afternoon trips for both matches and seats can be
booked by contacting either Robin Carey or Ian Rigg.
Fylde fought hard at Harrogate on Saturday but eventually went down 31-17 to the League Two leaders. Richard Kenyon and Sam Clark scored tries (his first try for the Club in some 15 league appearances), both converted by David Wiseman, who also kicked a penalty. For Harrogate, the two backs featured in FyldeNet's preview of the match last week did the business - three more tries by fullback Ed Smithies (following three the previous week against West Hartlepool) and one by flying winger James Tapster. The fifth score was a penalty try, for which Fylde flanker Mike Bradwell was sinbinned. Lee Cholewa kicked three conversions to complete the scoring. Click here for the Evening Gazette's report on the match. In other matches in League Two, Bracknell won handsomely at Rosslyn Park (33-19) to secure 2nd place, whilst Kendal and Rugby had relatively easy victories at home to Newbury (18-0) and 'Hoppers (20-8) respectively. Wharfedale won narrowly (22-20) at Esher, with ex-Fylde winger Chris Armitage scoring once again. Lydney, one place below Fylde in the table, increased the pressure on them by beating Camberley 18-16. Scores were: Esher
20 - 22 Wharfedale Nottingham v West Hartlepool was postponed Lytham secured their position at the top of North Lancs 2 with a 30 - 5 win over Carnforth at the Woodlands. For a report on the match, click here. In weather conditions starkly
contrasting to those enjoyed by the 1st XV over the
Pennines, the Wanderers lost to Harrogate by 7-24
at the Woodlands on Saturday. Fylde had named a strong
pack containing former club captain Jon Taylor and
Paddy O’Neill but unfortunately the scrums
were not contested. A couple of defensive lapses in the
slippery conditions let the visitors in for their tries
but the Wanderers came into the match in the second half.
Our only reward was a converted try, and a Harrogate try
just before the final whistle gave them a flattering
scoreline. Fylde's tough challenge at Harrogate Fylde face their biggest challenge of the season on Saturday when they visit table topping Harrogate at Claro Road. The Yorkshiremen are in good form, winning at home against West Hartlepool by 60-0 last weekend. They started the season by losing at home against Rugby (12-19), but followed that with three wins against Kendal (away, 33-10), Esher and Bracknell (home 31-10 & 28-27 respectively). Two away defeats, at Camberley (15-16) and Rosslyn Park (17-19), followed, then an away win at Lydney (24-3). They also lost to Rugby by 16-15 in the Tetley Bitter Cup 2nd Round. Fylde suffer the loss of lock Paul Holmes who is working in Saudi Arabia at the moment. Ex-Wakefield lock Richard Wilson replaces him and makes his 1st Team debut. Mike Dreyer is moved up from No.8 to replace Gavin Collins, whilst Mike Bradwell comes into the backrow for his first league match of the season following an ankle injury. Prop Jon Webster has problems with his back and is on the subs bench, with Sam Clark taking over. Coach Mark Nelson hopes to have more options in the 2nd row soon. "Jon Taylor is returning from injury and we are keen to give him a run-out in the second team at home to Harrogate on Saturday.” The back line is unchanged from the Esher game. Local intelligence is that the Harrogate squad team spirit is the most buoyant for the last five seasons. Star player is young left winger James Tapster, who is believed to have a great future in the game. Damian Lavin will have to be at his sharpest - Tapster has been timed at 10.8 seconds over 100 meters. He scored 4 tries at Twickenham for Yorkshire U20s and has been selected for the North & Midlands squad against the West of France next week, and is on the fringe of the England Sevens squad. Full back Ed Smithies is no slouch either as Fylde will remember with his two tries against them in the corresponding match last season. He scored three tries on Saturday against West Hartlepool. A very recent strengthening of the pack has been achieved by the signing this week of veteran lock John Dudley from Rotherham. Dudley has played at all levels with Rotherham over 16 years as the Club has moved up the league structure so dramatically. He is a doughty opponent and is on the bench on Saturday. HARROGATE FYLDE 15 Ed
Smithies
15 Ben Godfrey 1 Mark
Pinder
1 Sam Clarke Subs A fairly strong Wanderers' side had to work hard to beat Vale of Lune 12-8 at the Woodlands on Saturday. With first teamers Mark Evans, Damian Lavin, Ben Godfrey, Sam Clark & Brent Wilson in the line-up, and under the scrutiny of coach Mark Nelson, there was every reason for a positive display. Vale Coach (and ex-Fylde favourite) Graham Smith urged on Vale from the sidelines and his team gave a gutsy performance. Fylde gave away far too much hard earned possession with silly knock-on's and turn overs. The try-scorers were brothers Ben and Tom Godfrey. Ben also landed a conversion. It was a good work out for a number of players on the fringe of the 1st team. None of Fylde's fellow National League 2 clubs go forward to the 5th Round of the Tetley Bitter Cup following Saturday's 4th round matches. There were gritty performances by Esher (losing at home 27-28 to Waterloo), Rosslyn Park (losing at home to Newcastle by 25-13), Rugby (38-26 by Manchester) and Bracknell (away by 31-23 to Wakefield). In
National League 2, Wharfedale's ill-fated match at
Camberley was postponed for a second time. On the
last occasion it was the fuel crisis; this time it was a
waterlogged ground. Fylde's opponents on Saturday, Harrogate,
were in ominously good form at home to West Hartlepool,
winning 60-0. West have yet to win a match this season,
and have shipped over 300 points in 8 matches. Harrogate
ran up 10 tries, with Smithes (3), Wade (3), Worden (2)
and Tapster (2) scoring. There were five conversions,
and, amazingly in such a large score, no successful
penalty kicks. Fylde will have to be at their best on
Saturday if they are to compete with the Yorkshiremen.
Wanderers team for Vale match The Wanderers have chosen a strong squad for the match against Vale of Lune at the Woodlands on Saturday, 4th November, ko 2.30. With the 1st Team having a rest day, a number of players in the 1st team, or on its margins, are selected: 15:
Alan Hodkinson 14: Damian Lavin. 13: Mark Evans. 12:
Aodhan Carson. 11: Richard Wilson. 10: Ben Godfrey. 9:
Mike MacFarlane. 8: Jon Kay. 7: Tom Godfrey. 6: Brent
Wilson. 5: Richard Wilson 4: Russell Crompton. 3: Andy
Gaulton. 2: Sam Clarke. 1: Steve Ellis. |
For an archive of news during October 2000, click here.
For an archive of news during September 2000, click here.
For an archive of news from February until May 2000, click here.
For an archive of news from
early November until February
2000, click here.
For an archive of news from
August until November of the
1999/2000 season, click here
For an archive of news from the
1998/9 season,
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