Two of the three unbeaten sides left in National League Two clash at the Woodlands on Saturday (ko 15.00). Harrogate did the double over Fylde last season, winning 31-17 at Claro Road and 18-12 at the Woodlands. The latter match, just before Christmas last year, was a very tight struggle and it may be a similar contest on Saturday, with Fylde having the somewhat stronger pack but Harrogate boasting a very prolific set of backs. Fylde's parsimonious defence (apart from Plymouth, the meanest in the league to date) is likely to be thoroughly tested by the division's most productive attack.
Harrogate won away at Newbury by 38-20 on the opening day of the season and home against Waterloo by 48-32 last week. After pointing out the strengths of their backs, particularly fullback Ed Smithies (Fylde's bete noir, six tries in the last three matches against us) and the prolific kicking No. 10, Lee Cholewa, their forwards have contributed eight of their 14 tries this season. Backrower Richard Wade is the leading League tryscorer with four.
The old warhorse, ex-Rotherham lock John Dudley (who made his debut for Harrogate at the Woodlands last year) scored two tries against Waterloo. Two summer signings who may face Fylde were formerly with Leeds Tykes - winger Jeremy Marr and prop Richard Melton. Both also scored tries against Waterloo.
Harrogate have been friends and rivals of Fylde over many, many years (click here for some background on the Club, courtesy of Stuart Young). Neil Withington has delved into the archives for memories of the Fylde & Harrogateclash in 1959, when Jack Quarmby scored seven tries!
Fylde's team is unchanged from last week. Richard Kenyon is still troubled by an ankle injury although Grant Ferguson has passed a fitness test.
Trend(B); Godfrey, Evans, Davies, Anderton; Gough, Condon; Filipo, Scott, Yates, Baldwin, Taylor, Atkinson, Lavin(C), Ferguson.
Other National League Two fixtures on Saturday are:
Newbury
v Orrell
Plymouth
v Rosslyn Park
Preston
v Stourbridge
Sedgley
P v Kendal
Waterloo
v Esher
Wharfedale
v Nottingham
Top point scorers after Week Two of the league programme are as follows:
36
Tom Barlow (Plymouth)
32
Anthony Handley (Waterloo)
28
Chris Glynn (Preston)
26
Phil Jones (Orrell)
24
Jonathan Gregory (Esher)
23
Mike Scott (Kendal)
20
Steve
Gough (Fylde)
20
Richard Wade (Harrogate)
20
Mike Wilcock (Sedgley Park)
Steve Gough lies 9th in the 'most consistent kickers' table:
% success
83.33
Colin Stephens (Sedgley Park)
83.33
Tom Barlow (Plymouth)
80.00
Phil Jones (Orrell)
80.00
Jon Martin (Newbury)
71.43
Tony Handley (Waterloo)
71.43
Chris Glynn (Preston)
70.00
Jonathan Davies (Wharfedale)
60.00
Ben Harvey (Stourbridge)
58.33
Steve Gough (Fylde) (1 out of 3
conversions, 6 out of 9 penalties)
58.33
Jonathan Gregory (Esher)
57.14
Dave Jackson (Nottingham)
53.33
Lee Cholewa (Harrogate)
(13/9/2001)
Excellent 18-16 win at Nottingham
Fylde made it 'two out of two' with a close win at Beeston on Saturday. They led at halftime 8-6 through an early try by Martin Scott (through a driving maul from a lineout near the Notingham line) and a penalty by Steve Gough. Despite another successful kick by Gough, Nottingham, through a try by centre Robinson, led by 16-11 going into the final quarter of the match.
A long punt upfield by Mark Evans changed the course of the game. The ball bounced wildly, was caught and held up expertly by winger Ben Godfrey who fed replacement hooker Craig McIntyre. He sidestepped two defenders to score. Gough kicked the conversion to win the match. Despite being a replacement in both games this season, McIntyre has scored second half tries in each. Coach Dean Kenny seems to have a golden touch with substitutions, together with the excellence of McIntyre's support play.
One curious aspect of the match was that each side was down to 14 players when they scored their respective second half tries. Robinson's effort came after back row man Darren Schrafft was sin-binned and McIntyre's whilst Fylde replacement Scott Buckley was similarly punished.
Click here for the Evening Gazette's report on the match. Nottingham's website also has a full report of the game. It draws attention to the gutsy display from the home side against the strong Lancastrian visitors, and to the impressive team building that has gone on at the Woodlands. It won't be the first time this season that our opponents fielded a smaller pack than the very big and powerful Fylde outfit.
The Fylde line-up was:
Trend; Godfrey, Evans, Davies, Anderton; Gough, Condon; Filipo (capt), Scott (McIntyre), Yates (Webster) , Taylor, Baldwin, Atkinson, Lavin, Ferguson (Buckley). Replacement not used: MacFarlane
Hookers united: Tries
scored in Fylde's first two matches = 3
Tries scored by hookers "
" = 3
This result sets up next week's game at the Woodlands. Freescoring Harrogate, also unbeaten in this campaign, are the visitors. They beat Waterloo 48-32 at Claro Road on Saturday.
There were top performances
from two of the three promoted sides. Sedgley Park astonished pre-season
promotion favourites Rosslyn Park by smashing them in London by
39-13, outscoring the home side by six tries to two. Plymouth continued
their amazing run (32 successive league wins) with a 34-10 win at fellow
promoted side Stourbridge. Orrell achieved their first win
of the season by beating Preston Grasshoppers by 28-16 (click
here for the Daily Telegraph's report).
(9/9/2001)
We
visit our old friends in Nottingham on Saturday. There is a long history
of fixtures between the two clubs. Last season saw honours even, with Fylde
winning narrowly in Nottingham by 17-15 but losing dismally in the last
game of the season at the Woodlands by 23-3, one of the worst performances
of that campaign.
Both clubs have recruited heavily during the summer. If the same personnel appear for each team as last Saturday (Nottingham lost at Waterloo by 25-14), Fylde will field five and Nottingham seven of the players who played at the Woodlands last April. By all accounts, their pack is a strong one and outplayed 'Loo in the tight, loose and at the lineouts.
Like Fylde, Nottinghamhave made changes in their coaching structure. Director of coaching last season, Mike Penistone, has left the club and is replaced by Roger Whittaker as first-team coach. He was formerly head coach at Heriots FP in Scotland and is a former Nottingham player. The club had a successful pre-season tour of Italy which included games against Mantova, Viadana and Calvisano, who are in Leicester Tigers’ European Cup group.
New recruits include prop Nick Adams (who has rejoined the Club from Nice), lock Mike Armstrong (also from French rugby), hooker Rob Harding (ex-Rosslyn Park and Rugby Lions), loose head prop James Fallon, prop Darren Horrobin (Waterloo), lock Dan Moore (Loughborough University) and flanker Giles Newmarsh (Leicester Tigers). Backs recruits include scrum-half Martin Jackson (Bedford Athletic), winger Josh Kay (Nottingham University), Rob Campbell (Rugby Lions), Richard Windle (Harrogate). Only Adams, Moore & Cambell started at Waterloo on Saturday, and the powerful Armstrong's registration was held up by bureaucracy. He is likely to play against Fylde. They have a prolific kicker in young flyhalf Tom Rolt - he dropped two goals at the Woodlands in April and another last Saturday.
Fylde's
top scorer in 1999/2000 (and ex-Lytham St. Annes High School pupil and
Oxford Blue), Nick Booth (right), has now recovered from a serious
knee ligament injury which ruled him out of the whole of last season. He
has played in the pre-season matches but missed the Waterloo game through
injury. Another ex-local schoolboy and Fylde RUFC youngster, flanker Richard
Lloyd, has been a regular 1st teamer and is likely to face his old
club on Saturday.
Fylde hope that centre Richard Kenyon will have recovered sufficiently from his ankle injury to make his 50th 1st team appearance.
Coach Dean Kenny was not overly impressed by the team's performance against Kendal. "We only played to 40% of what we are capable and there are a lot of areas that we need to work on". Training this week has been stepped up accordingly. Kenny added "Though we can still improve, a scrambled two points is what its all about, and I was happy with the way we defended. I can say one thing - if we do gel together as a unit, there are going to be a lot of worried sides out there".
News of other players:
Dylan O'Grady is still four weeks away from action following his shoulder operation in the summer.
Sam Clark has left the Club to join David Tanner and Julian Irving at Blackpool Scorpions Rugby League Club. Clark, who has played mainly at prop but also at hooker, has been with the Club for the past three seasons.
Karl Long will not be available to play for Fylde until October at the earliest. This is because of his commitments with Sale Sharks development squad, Sale Jets. Sale are very impressed with the young winger/centre.
The other National League Two fixtures on Saturday are below. Six of the eight northern clubs are playing each other. All the matches look enticing, with the Orrell/Hoppers & Stourbridge/Plymouth games looking particularly interesting.
Esher v Newbury; Harrogate v Waterloo; Kendal v Wharfedale; Orrell v Preston Grasshoppers; Rosslyn Park v Sedgley Park; Stourbridge v Plymouth Albion.
Background
information on all clubs is on our continually updated National
League Two page.
(4/9/2001)
Tense win for Fylde against Kendal
A far from convincing but ultimately gritty performance from Fylde saw them edge home 17-14 against Kendal thanks to a last minute penalty from Steve Gough in the opening match of their National Two campaign at the Woodlands on Saturday. Still, the win was extremely important and new coach Dean Kenny will have seen plenty of hopeful signs in what is a rather different squad from last season. The home side gave starting debuts to lock Dave Baldwin, prop Alan Yates, backrowers Andy Atkinson and Grant Ferguson, centre Gareth Davies and fullback Ben Trend, as well as the returning favourite, flyhalf Gough. Substitute lock, newcomer Scott Buckley, also gave a telling cameo performance towards the end of the game.
Fylde started well, opening the scoring with a Gough penalty kick, but gradually gave ground through a mixture of their own errors, unnecessarily conceded penalties and improving Kendal play. The half ended with the Cumbrians No. 10, prolific kicker Mike Scott, landing a dropped goal to level it at 6-6. Midway through the 2nd half Gough spilled the slippery ball on halfway, Kendal broke away and the big impressive South African, centre Ian Voortman, scored a try on the left.
Six minutes later, the Fylde lineout, which had creaked throughout, got it right near the Kendal line with a fine catch by Jon Taylor. The Fylde pack set up a driving maul and replacement hooker Craig McIntyre claimed the try. With the addition of the powerful Baldwin and streetwise Yates to the strength of established players Matt Filipo, Martin Scott and Jon Taylor, this is a big Fylde front five. Andy Atkinson and Grant Ferguson are also big guys, so the Woodlanders must have the strongest pack for many years. If anything, based on this first performance, the questions will concern the pack's mobility and pace. They also lost at least five of their own lineouts which, with the highly experienced Baldwin and Taylor in their ranks, was puzzling. Most of the lost ball was when the throw was to the back of the Fylde line.
The backs didn't really click too well. Kicking from hand wasn't very good and Steve Gough, although scoring 12 points, had an 'iffy' day with his place kicking. The cause wasn't helped by an early injury to centre Richard Kenyon. He made a brave interception of a scoring Kendal pass near the Fylde line, raced out of defence, kicked ahead and hurt his leg in the subsequent ruck deep in the Kendal half. Replacement Greg Anderton took up his normal place on the left wing at half time with Mark Evans moving to the centre. The young ex-Blackpool three quarter Ben Trend, playing at fullback, looked understandably nervous on his first class debut.
The best performance in the back line came from the powerful inside centre Gareth Davies. He showed his potential with a few strong runs, one of which almost brought a Fylde try. As he passed inside to flanker Mike Bradwell, the latter was tackled without the ball by his opposite number Mike Bowman. This earned the Cumbrian a yellow card as well as leading to an easy penalty converted by Gough. With the scores level entering the final minutes, Fylde stepped up their efforts and attacked the Kendal line with vigour. Scott Buckley made a lot of ground and, eventually, a Cumbrian ventured offside. Gough did the business when it mattered, kicking the goal from 30 metres from the left of the posts. Click here for a full report on the match from the Evening Gazette's Steve Simpson
Its too early to see serious evidence of new coach Dean Kenny's influence on the team but his substitutions on Saturday were very well timed. It was good to see replacements being used positively, replacing players (Martin Scott and Jon Taylor) who had done well but when there was a need for fresh legs. Both Craig McIntyre and Scott Buckley impressed with their contributions.
Kendal will feel, with some justification, that they deserved at least a share of the points. Fylde will have a lot of work to do ahead of next Saturday's visit to Nottingham and much more before Rugby Chairman Tony Todd's ambition of promotion looks viable. What is certain is Todd's point about the current squad being much stronger than last season. With backrowers, Irish international Dylan O'Grady and promising young Kiwi Brent Wilson, still to return after major surgery in the summer, the team will be even better.
The line-ups were:
Fylde Trend, Evans, Kenyon (Anderton 40), Davies, Godfrey; Gough, Condon; Filipo (capt.), Scott (McIntyre 55), Yates, Baldwin, Taylor (Buckley 65), Atkinson, Bradwell, Ferguson. Replacement not used: Cassidy
Kendal Dodds, Woodcock, Healey, Voortman, Balmer; Scott, Mee; Harryman, Gowing, Thompson (capt.), Robinson, Capstick, Bowman, Burnett, Bateson.
Replacements:
Lund, Quarry, Rose, Spiby
(3/9/2001)
Top performances of the 1st week in National Two came from Harrogate who won 38-20 at Newbury (two tries by the prolific fullback Ed Smithies) and Rosslyn Park who edged out Wharfedale 18-15 in the Dales. Two of the three promoted sides, Plymouth and Sedgley Park, met each other in Devon and the home side triumphed by a handsome 34-13, helped by 22 points from ex-Fylde and Rossall flyhalf Tom Barlow.
There were narrow home victories for 'Hoppers and Stourbridge against Esher and Orrell respectively. Fellow relegated Lancastrians, Waterloo, had more success with a 25-14 home win over Fylde's next opponents, Nottingham.
This batch of results underlines how tight this league is likely to be this year. There is no whipping boy such as West Hartlepool last season. Its difficult to see any weak sides and likely that many of the coming matches will be narrowly won and lost.
[Incidently, the agony for West goes on. They lost their 52nd match out the last 53 when they went down by 36-17 at Nuneaton in National Three North. What must it be like to be seeking your 2nd win in three seasons?]
The full results are below. Click on the links to clubs for more details, or to Sporting Life's rugby pages for full results and scorers.
A new service on the site, provided via the National Clubs Association by SportsStats Online Ltd, is the provision of a complete National Two statistical breakdown, brief descriptions of matches, scorers and other analyses. Click here for a Word document (127k) version of this report after week 1 of the season. New versions of this will appear weekly.
Fylde
17-14 Kendal
Newbury
20-38 Harrogate
Plymouth
A. 34-13 Sedgley
Park
Preston
G. 22-21 Esher
Stourbridge
21-18 Orrell
Waterloo
25-14 Nottingham
Wharfedale
15-18
Rosslyn Park
Background information on all Fylde's opponents is on our continually updated National League Two page.
RFU Cup results - Fylde face Walsall or Blaydon in Round 2
As a result of the preliminary rounds played on August 25th & September 1st, Walsall (Midlands Division 1) are at home to Blaydon (National Three North, one rung higher) on 15th September. Fylde will visit the winners in Round Two on 29th September.
Walsall were very unlucky to be relegated from National Three North last season on the basis of a 'Pools Panel' decision because of unplayed fixtures due to the Foot & Mouth epidemic. Although they finished fourth from bottom, the RFU selected them as one of the two relegated clubs on the basis of the matches that they hadn't been able to complete against sides in F&M areas. This season they have had narrow cup victories against Newport (away, 30-28) and Mansfield (home, 10-6).
Blaydon, promoted to the
National Leagues this season, lost by the narrowest margin, 24-23, at Morley
in their opening league fixture.
(3/9/2001)
Fylde's
latest signing ahead of the Kendal game is experienced prop forward Alan
Yates. He was a regular in Manchester's National One side last season
and has previously been at Sale. A big welcome to Alan! He will strengthen
front row power considerably and will compete for the tight head spot with
Jon
Webster, one of Fylde's most improved players last season.
(29/8/2001)
A
cry for help!
Part-time
weekend bar staff are required at the club. This is a permanent position.
Volunteers are also needed to help behind the bar on 1st. XV Match days.
Further details are available from Ian on (01253) 734733 or (Mobile) 07751
371576.
(27/8/2001)
Want to get fitter? Slimmer? Have some fun? Then come and try one of the classes held four times a week at the Woodlands by M&M Aerobics. The age group is mixed and beginners are always welcome:
Monday
6-7
p.m. & 7-8 p.m.
Wednesdays
10-11
a.m.
Thursday
6.45-7.45 p.m.
Prices
are £2.50 per class. Just turn up at a session and Michelle and
Maddy
will
be delighted to help you tone up and improve your fitness. This is a friendly
class so, don't worry about coming alone!
(17/8/2001)
Lytham win opening friendly
Lytham won their first friendly of this season by 17-14 against Lancashire Constabulary at the Woodlands last night. Click here for a brief match report. (17/8/2001)
Fylde's pre-season programme has been changed. Their Scottish tour has been restricted to a match on Saturday against Dunfermline. A squad of 26 players will be on the trip. And the home match against Manchester has been moved to Thursday, 23rd August at 18.30.
Fylde's two major signings, Dave Baldwin and Steve Gough, finalised their moves to the Club before training on Tuesday night..
(15/8/2001)
Up and coming North West clubs
If Fylde members and supporters have any doubts about the changing face of rugby in the North West of England, and the vital task of keeping the Club at least at National Two level, then news of the team strengthening activities of the new NW meritocrats, Sedgley Park and New Brighton, will send shivers down their spines. North Manchester-based Park, competing for the first time at National Two level this season, had a very competitive squad last year, including at least two ex-international players and a few fulltime professionals, and they duely won promotion from National League Three (North). They are led by Welsh international flyhalf Colin Stephens, supported by Rumanian international and old favourite with Fylde, lock Cristian Radacanu, and Kiwi fullback Rob Moon.
They have now made a string of impressive signings to strengthen their pack, many with experience of National One or higher, such as Paul Rees (Wakefield), Huw Thomas (New Brighton & Leeds), Rod Latham (Rotherham), Chris Johnson (Leeds), Peter Fletcher (Morley) and Ian Grainey (Orrell). This has been topped off by New Zealand and Fijian international centre Carlos Hassan, who has experience at Rotherham, Bristol and Bradford Bulls RL. Given that Park's membership isn't huge and their attendances normally modest, this player investment must be financed by either a very sharp sponsorship programme, generous benefactors, or tight financial management - or a combination of these. Park visited Fylde's likely cup opponents, National Three (North) side Blaydon, for a friendly match on Saturday and won 42-14.
At one level lower, National Three (North), is once prominent New Brighton. This is a club with a famous history and who were regular opponents of Fylde durring the '50s, '60s & '70s. But the Club fell on hard times and gradually slipped down the new league structure. Well, no more! They were pipped for promotion to National Two by Sedgley Park right at the end of the season but have great ambitions.
They have now appointed Alistair Savarimutto as Director of Rugby and he has moved fast to secure a clutch of new players. These include his brother, Irish international scrum-half Christian (who was lined up for a move to Fylde a year or so ago), South African (& Border) hooker Paul Saffey, Irish U21 inetrnational prop from Newcastle Falcons Tim Morton, ex-Orrell pair Alistair Atkinson (brother of our new signing Andrew) and Lee Wakelan, Dutch international Jim Keulemans and, most impressive of all, Australian centre Riaz Fredericks (last season with Ulster and Bedford). They entertain 'Hoppers on Saturday, 18th August, and it will be interesting to see how thet fare.
With Orrell fortified by the Dave Whelan take-over and about to hoover up players to strengthen their small squad with the now promised funds at their disposal, and with competitive squads at 'Hoppers, Kendal and Waterloo, then the future of North West rugby below Sale Sharks & Manchester looks brighter than it has for a long while.
But
Fylde has to sort out its financial future through a land sale if the Club
is to maintain its status in national rugby. This is why the Booths deal
is so important.
(14/8/2001)
Public enquiry called for Booths proposal
In the latest chapter in this interminable saga, the Government Office for the North West has 'called in' the Booths planning proposal. This will now go to a public enquiry, despite having 90% of the local population behind it. The scheme allegedly breaches local planning regulations so an enquiry is deemed to be necessary.
This is a considerable blow to the Club and its urgent need to clear off debts and provide additional facilities at the Woodlands through which to promote rugby and other sports in the area. Fylde members and supporters might well wonder if a public enquiry isn't a massive waste of public money, given the clear wishes of ordinary people in the area. Although there is still confidence that the enquiry will eventually back the scheme, its tempting to believe that 'somebody up there' is trying to kill it off - and maybe the future of the Club with it. Needless to say, all the Club's contacts and personal networks will have to be tapped in order to present the stongest case to the enquiry.
If,
ultimately, the Booths scheme is rejected, then the Club has little option
but to sell the land for housing. This was underlined by Fylde Chairman
Arnie Halford when he heard the latest news. Many people believe that the
area needs facilties such as new retailing outlets more urgently than housing,
given the large projects underway through developments such as Cyprus Point.
(13/8/2001)
Back-row dilemma
With last season's 1st team ever-present, Dylan O'Grady, still recovering from an operation on his shoulder, highly promising Kiwi Brent Wilson just having surgery on cruciate knee ligaments, hotshot city financier Carl Lavin frequently working overseas, and the popular Mike Dreyer back in South Africa, Fylde's back-row resources are going to be tested early in the new season. New recruits from Orrell, Andy Atkinson and Scott Buckley, will clearly come into the frame, alongside Mike Bradwell (who showed a lot of promise in his first season at the Club) and newcomer, ex-Arnold & Exeter University 1st teamer, Grant Ferguson.
Despite this problem, Rugby Chairman Tony Todd is upbeat about prospects for the coming season. Quoted in last Saturday's Evening Gazette he said "I am convinced that the [all new] coaching team of Dean Kenny, Dave Baldwin, Brendan Hanovan and Steve Gough is as good as any in the league.
"The squad is shaping up well, and although we may not be able to put together our first choice backrow, our front five of Jonathan Webster, Martin Scott, Matt Filipo, Dave Baldwin and Jon Taylor, is as good as you will see anywhere in the division."
[Well, there is certainly a great mix of beef and experience there. I can see a rolling maul coming on! Webmaster].
Around the Woodlands ...
An essential role in getting this beef in good shape is the Club's physiotherapist. The new season will see a change in personnel here too. Goodbye and thanks to Sally Eaves (who gave the Club 17 years sterling service and is now concentrating on her private practice) who is replaced by Californian Jill Klein. Jill brings North American experience to the job at Fylde from August 7th. Her impressive CV includes: currently Centre Clinical Manager for Meridian Sports Therapists, Orrell, Wigan; Masters’ Degree in Sports Management, with major in Sports Medicine Physio to British Baseball Team U.S.- Certified Athletic Trainer; Lecturer in Physiotherapy at Salford University. A very warm welcome to Jill!
Fylde
will open the season at the Woodlands against Kendal on 1st September with
new coaches, a new physio, some new players, a new 1st Team Manager ('Riggers')
and ... a new strip. In the style of Saracens (see right), it should
be of a quality unsurpassed in the memories of all players currently at
the club! The base of the shirt i.e. up to chest high, is in claret, topped
by a thin white band, with gold shoulders, claret short sleeves with a
gold band. Canterbury white shorts and claret socks with a gold and
white band.
Star capture, Dave Baldwin, won't be at Fylde's final training day before the new season on 25th August at the Woodlands. He'll be attending his testimonial game, between Sale Sharks and Worcester, at Heywood Road. He's been a great servant to Sale so let's hope there is a excellent turnout for him.
More Sharks news: the highly promising wing cum centre Karl Long, who (it is hoped) will play for Fylde in the coming season if not required by Sale, is named in the Sale squad for the Middlesex Sevens on Saturday, 18th August. Also included is Chris Jones, the England U19 centre who made a number of first team appearances for us last season. The Sale squad is very young and inexperienced compared with a number of other Premiership clubs who will be fielding internationals.
A Fylde
womens rugby team? Ruth Paul has agreed to look into the feasibility
of starting up a womens rugby team at the Club. Anyone interested in playing
or helping out in some way, please either e-mail
Ruth or phone her on 07812 404019.
(6/8/2001)