Fylde won their third match away from the Woodlands this season with an excellent 29-16 victory at Newbury. Fylde scored four tries, two by Mark Evans and one each from Andrew Perry (his first for the Club) and Brent Wilson. Three first half tries, two of them converted by Richard Kenyon, gave the visitors a 19-10 lead. Kenyon converted a fourth try, plus kicking a penalty, to earn a deserved two league points. Click here for the Evening Gazette's match report. For a Newbury view, click here.
This win takes them to equal third place in the table. The Fylde line-up was:
Kenyon; Perry, Hassan, Davies, Evans; Wallwork, Condon; Cassidy, Scott (McIntyre), Yates, Baldwin, Taylor (capt.), Bradwell (O'Grady), Jones, Wilson.
Other
games in National Two went more or less by the formbook. Best, and just
about the only unexpected, win of the day went to Kendal. Not usually
the best of travellers, they visited third placed Esher and beat
them narrowly by 25-22. Second placed Sedgley Park had a sound 29-17
win at Stourbridge, not as clear a win as Fylde's, three weeks earlier.
'Hoppers
failed to build on their win at the Woodlands and went down by 23-25 to
visitors Wharfedale. The bottom four sides all lost. Apart from
Newbury, Rosslyn Park were creditable losers at
Orrell (8-25),
Nottingham
went down by 16-25 at Harrogate, and Waterloo didn't disturb
the scorers in their 0-37 defeat at home to run away leaders
Plymouth.
Even at this stage of the season, it seems as if the Devonians are overwhelming
favourites for promotion to National One.
(12/11/2001)
Newbury await Fylde
Fylde
are on the road again, visiting Newbury on Saturday (ko 13.00, ahead
of the England v Australia game, click
here for directions), and will be hoping to regain their early season
form after two disappointing performances. Their visitors have had somewhat
of a roller coaster season so far. They advanced to the 5th Round of the
RFU Cup last weekend by beating Nuneaton and now meet fellow National Two
side Orrell on their own ground.
In the league, 'the Blues' have beaten Orrell (home, 26-24) and Waterloo (away, 26-20). But they have lost against Harrogate (home, 20-38), Esher (away, 22-33), Stourbridge (away, 14-37), Preston G. (home, 20-30) & Plymouth (home, 12-40). They sit at the bottom of the league on four points with Nottingham, Waterloo and Rosslyn Park. However, there is so little between most of the sides in the division that this position at this time of the season is pretty meaningless. As Fylde have had two successive defeats, the Blues have had two wins. They appear to be gelling as a unit and Fylde will be hard pressed to come away with any points.
Newbury have a new coach
this season, Keith Richardson, formerly with Gloucester and Coventry.
On the playing front, they have recruited two Australians with British
passports, hooker
Brad Gill from Randwick (who is skippering the
side) and lock/backrow Jeff Pickthall from Eastwood. Two young Bristol
players, flanker Jon Porter
and full back Hugo Southwell,
are on a seasons loan at the Club, and centre/No 10 Jonathan Martin
has moved from Clifton. Kicking duties are in the hands of fly-half Dan
Coen, who sits at the top of the 'most consistent kicker' table in
National Two. He has recently taken over these duties from Ian Morgan.
(7/11/2001)
Fylde's coach Dean Kenny has been banned from the touchline until November 21st following his criticism of referee David Matthews after the Orrell league match on 6th October. The Club had already imposed a four week ban, and this was extended for another two weeks by the disciplinary committee which met in Leeds on Tuesday evening. Kenny was incensed by Matthews' continual penalising of the Fylde front row at scrummages.
He will be back in time for
the big game against Plymouth at the Woodlands on November 24th.
(7/11/2001)
Fylde go out after first half parity
Despite a competitive first half at Edge Hall Road in the RFU Senior Cup which saw Fylde still in contention at 9-12 down, Orrell ran riot in the 2nd half and won easily in the end by 37-9. They scored six tries in all, with a brace from winger Neil Kerfoot. Orrell kept their line intact for the first time this season. Fylde's points were made up of three penalties by stand-in kicker (and, according to the Evening Gazette, by some distance their best player) Richard Kenyon.
Missing skipper Matt Filipo, the pack fought hard but were second best to their opponents. Once again, Brent Wilson was the pick of the forwards, and Jon Taylor worked hard in an increasingly unequal struggle . Meanwhile, the backs once again failed to create openings against a talented but hardly first choice set of Orrell backs.
The Fylde rugby management knows that it has some serious problems to sort out. However, there is a severe danger of a level of depression setting in around the Club that it quite inappropriate. Steve Simpson's report in the Evening Gazette paints a Doomsday scenario, and "what is effectively crisis point" with relegation on the horizon if things aren't turned around in the next two matches. This is only 16 days after the excellent victory at Stourbridge, just about the best away performance in the past three or four seasons, when Fylde sat equal 2nd in National Two, duly celebrated by the Gazette! It is vital to get matters in proportion. Tabloid-style journalism like this by Simpson doesn't help matters.
Fylde's side was: Kenyon; Parry, Hassan, Davies, Evans; Wallwork, Condon; Cassidy, Scott, Yates, Baldwin, Taylor, Ferguson, Lavin, Wilson.
Newbury, Fylde's next opponents (in Berkshire on Saturday), will be cock-a-hoop after winning at home to Nuneaton and being, with Orrell, the only clubs outside National One to have survived into the 5th Round. As fate has it, Newbury have drawn Orrell at home, so that one National Two side is certain to advance to the 6th Round when the Zurich Premiership sides enter the draw. The full 5th Round draw is:
Birmingham Solihull v Henley
Manchester v Exeter
Worcester v Rotherham
Newbury v Orrell
Ties are to be played on 24th or 25th November
The Wanderers continued
their season of struggle with a 6-52 loss against Otley 2nds at
the Woodlands. They are anchored at the bottom of the Northern
Merit Table.
(4/11/2001)
Skipper Matt Filipo is ruled out of Saturday's 4th Round RFU Senior Cup tie against Orrell at Edge Hall Road. He injured an ankle in the home match against Preston Grasshoppers on Saturday and is likely to be out for a fortnight. His position at loosehead prop will most likely be taken by Jonathan Webster who has played in both previous cup ties, at Blaydon and Norwich, has been a replacement in another five matches and has proved one of Fylde's most consistent players in the last couple of seasons. The other prop forward in the 1st team squad who has been named amongst the replacements this season, but has yet to see action, is newcomer Nick Cassidy.
There is likely to be a number of other selection issues facing Fylde's rugby management following last Saturday's performance. In relation to that match, Chairman of Rugby Tony Todd said: "Our mental attitude wasn't right in that match and we need to address that against Orrell. Our preparation wasn't correct either. Some of our more experienced players did not perform ... and they went into the match against Preston thinking it was going to be easy".
Chris Jones, the flanker/lock on loan from Sale Sharks who has scored two tries in his only two full appearances for Fylde, is in contention for a place in the backrow if he recovers from a groin injury in time.
Fly-half Martin Wallwork could earn a recall. He is a free agent after leaving Bedford, where he made 15 full appearances last season. His negotiations over a move to French club Lyon have stalled. Fylde chairman of rugby Tony Todd said: "We don't think he is going to France and he could be available for the Orrell game." He made a very impressive cameo appearance for the last 25 minutes of the league match with Orrell at the Woodlands a few weeks ago when Steve Gough got a knock. Martin Scott returns at hooker, replacing this season's top try scorer, Craig McIntyre.
Fylde (probable): Kenyon; Perry, Davies, Hassan, Evans; Wallwork, Condon; Webster, Scott, Yates, Baldwin, Taylor, Lavin, Jones, Wilson.
Orrell will be clear favourites to go through to Round 5. They have a powerful squad of players, many of whom are fulltime professionals. Despite their dangerous and outstanding backline, they are beatable as Sedgley Park showed last week. Park played a much tighter game than normal and kept their discipline. Not for the first time in his career, Orrell's veteran lock Charles Cusani didn't, was sinbinned for repeated lineout obstruction and Park grabbed their opportunity to edge ahead and take the game.
There are some important lessons from this match which Fylde should heed, in addition to the need to maintain discipline. Park's wily veteran (& ex-Welsh international) fly-half, Colin Stephens, kicked beautifully to keep Orrell in check. It is vital that some of the poor infield kicking that we've seen at the Woodlands isn't repeated. Orrell's backs need no invitation to counter attack from deep, and balls kicked aimlessly down their throats will be suicidal. And Fylde's tackling will have to be much better than against 'Hoppers if they are to have a chance of stopping the Orrell threequarters.
Orrell have the worse disciplinary record in National Two, with eight yellow cards picked up by their players in seven league matches. In comparison, Fylde have had four players sinbinned. Interestingly, the top three clubs in the division have the best disciplinary records. Plymouth and Esher have each only had one player yellow carded, whilst Sedgley Park haven't picked up any cards at all.
One dangerous opponent not in the Orrell ranks on Saturday will be No 10, Phil Jones. Since the Wigan Warriors reserve flyhalf moved to Edge Hall Road, he has been extremely successful, as playmaker and goal kicker. He is National Two's top points scorer with 110 points already this season and played very well at the Woodlands a few weks ago. Two weeks ago against Wharfedale, Jones late tackled Dale's David Whitfield who was badly dazed as a result. The visitors complained and Jones has been suspended by his club for two weeks. He misses the Fylde cup tie and a league fixture against Rosslyn Park the following week.
Richard Welding is at full-back, and Mark Yates, a young speedster who has been getting good notices from the 2nd team, will make his first team debut on the right, with Neil Kerfoot retained on the left and the most dangerous three quarter at the Woodlands a few weeks ago, Australian Wade Kelly (ex-Randwick), returning at centre.
Andy Craig continues at centre whilst John Broxson (who was at scrumhalf at the Woodlands) moves to No 10 and Paul Newton forge a new partnership at half-back. Top rugby league winger, also from Wigan, Wes Davies, is out injured and even more recent signing, Nick Easter (a No 8 from Rosslyn Park) is cup tied. Samoan prop Tonga Lea'atoa makes his cup debut and is the only change form the pack which faced Fylde in the earlier match.
Orrell (probable): Welding; Yates, Craig, Kelly, Kerfoot; Broxson, Newton; Livesey, Moffat, Lea'atoa, Bentley, Cusani, Bennett, Lloyd, Monighan.
The full draw for the 4th Round is:
Orrell
v Fylde
Darlington
MP v Manchester
Henley
v Otley
Moseley
v Worcester
Rotherham
v Coventry
Birmingham/S
v Wakefield
Newbury
v Nuneaton
Exeter
v London Welsh
Dylan
O'Grady, absent so far this season following surgery on his shoulder
during the summer, may play for the Wanderers against Otley 2nds at the
Woodlands on Saturday.
(31/10/2001)
Fylde very disappointing in local derby
Fylde reserved their worst performance of the season for one of their most important matches, against local rivals Preston Grasshoppers. 'Hoppers were always more coherent in their game plan and thoroughly deserved their 21-10 victory. They played most of the open rugby that was on display and their backs always looked dangerous against a lucklustre Fylde defence.
It was difficult to identify the reasons why things went so badly wrong for the home side. Thanks to another Craig McIntyre try from a lineout and driving maul (converted by Steve Gough, who also added a penalty), Fylde led by 10-3 at one stage in the first half. Skipper Matt Filipo then retired with an ankle injury and there seemed to be a lack of leadership thereafter. Suddenly, the visitors backs clicked, and the most woeful of defending by the home side saw winger Tim Lough go past and through four Fylde backs on his mazy way to the line. It was a good run by the tricky Aussie but there was no excuse for the pathetic tackling.
Orchestrated by No. 10, Tim's brother Michael Lough, 'Hoppers realised that the more they opened up play, the more chance of success they had. Within a few minutes of Lough's try, powerful centre Gary Monaghan repeated the dose and burst through for another try. From leading at one stage in the half by 10-3, Fylde were suddenly trailing by 10-15 at the break.
The second half was pretty sterile, with Fylde trying to take the game to the visitors but undermined by a series of knock-ons, turnovers and punishable mistakes. Another two Chris Glynn penalties secured Preston's win. As dark clouds and heavy rain enveloped the Woodlands towards the end of the match, it seemed a suitable epitaph for the home side.
Despite hard work from the pack, they were never able to exert enough control over their opponents. Brent Wilson drove time and again from the back of scrums and rucks but, although he made a lot of yards, the subsequent possession was either too slow or misused. The ever willing Jon Taylor never shirked a challenge, but needed more pacy support around him which wasn't there. Hooker McIntyre was replaced by Martin Scott in order to give Fylde more power and fresh legs. But Scott was soon sinbinned for rather too vigourously trying to get a 'Hoppers player from obstructing Fylde possession from a ruck, so was able to make little contribution. Lawrence Condon's introduction at scrum-half (replacing home debutant Richard Dinsdale) with 20 minutes remaining did add urgency and he put his opposite number, Charlie DuPre, under a lot of pressure.
Amongst the Fylde backs, Gareth Davies worked hard with some bludgening runs through the middle but more subtle tactics were also called for. Their set plays, no doubt worked out in detail on the training pitch, looked predictable and a bit confused. Not for the first time, a top class rugby league back moving to union, Phil Hassan, found it hard to get enough clean ball to establish himself in the match. It was a difficult baptism for him and judgement will have to be reserved for another day. The injured Stuart Connell, who can boss and organise the backs effectively, was missed, although the general malaise didn't extend to winger Mark Evans who tackled well and ran hard. Click here for Steve Simpson's report for the Evening Gazette.
Preston's coach, Brian Wellens, made his judgement about what went wrong for Fylde. He said that once Plan A had failed, Fylde had no alternative Plan B to trouble the visitors. Wellens said: "We know from having watched Fylde that they can drive the ball forward 25 yards and can beat teams up front. But if teams can combat that, as we did, then they don't have much else to offer." The next few weeks will show whether that final put-down has validity. People who make those kind of public comments often have to eat their words. Its up to everyone at the Woodlands to make Wellens choke on them before the season is up!
Come what may, it was hard to believe that more or less the same team had played so impressively against Stourbridge away from home and then put in such an anemic performance a week later. The 'behind closed doors' meeting after the match between Dean Kenny, his two player-coaches (Steve Gough and Dave Baldwin) and skipper Matt Filipo was extensive. There will have to be more hard talking and training if Fylde are to compete with Orrell in the 4th Round of the RFU Cup at Edge Hall Road next week.
On the other hand, everyone must guard against tabloid-style sporting judgements which praises to the roof one week and demolishes the players the next. If Fylde were a good team at Stourbridge, Saturday's result doesn't make them a poor team overnight. What it does suggest is that the squad will have to be infinitely more consistent if they are to achieve Fylde rugby management's objective of a top four place by the end of the season.
Tailpiece: another surprising and depressing feature of the match was the very average gate and an almost total absence of vociferous 'Hoppers support. A few years ago and we would have seen a real atmosphere at the match and bantering on the terraces. Not on Saturday. Performances on the pitch go up and down in any sport. But, for the future of North West rugby union, the crowd (or lack of it) was perhaps the most disappointing feature of all on Saturday. The Webmaster, shouting on the Fylde boys, woke up a young baby in the vicinity who proceded to cry bitterly. What was sad is that he felt guilty about it. No chance of sleeping babies at St. James' Park or even at North End!
To compound the Woodlands misery, Lytham lost 14-3 at home to Bury. This was only their second defeat of the season.
And the Wanderers lost at 'Hoppers 2nds by 26-39. The Wanderers languish bottom of the Northern Merit Table with one point from 7 matches.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Elsewhere in National Two, there were some surprising results. Apparently all conquering Orrell, now formally part of Dave Whelan's business empire, went down at Sedgley Park, who put last week's slip-up at Esher quickly behind them. Wharfedale and Stourbridge shared a high scoring draw, whilst Esher won well at Rosslyn Park. Newbury had an excellent victory at struggling Waterloo to draw level with them in the league, bottom place being shared also with Rosslyn Park and Nottingham. Fylde's next two league matches, at Newbury and then home to Waterloo, take on particular significance in this light. At the top of the table, Plymouth had an inexorable and easy win at home to Nottingham. There seems to be no stopping them, whilst most of the other clubs look capable on their day of beating anyone else except the Devonians.
Kendal
32 - 14 Harrogate
Plymouth A
46 - 12 Nottingham
Rosslyn Park
10 - 17 Esher
Sedgley Park
25 - 12 Orrell
Waterloo
20 - 26 Newbury
Wharfedale
29 - 29 Stourbridge
Stephen McCormack's weekly report, following Week 7 of National League Two, is available as a Word document (137k) by clicking here.
Since London One side Norwich
gave Fylde a bit of a suprise in the last round of the RFU Cup, their form
has dipped. In their next match at home to Haywards Heath they edged
through with a 15-13 win but on Saturday lost their unbeaten run by losing
at Basingstoke by 25-39.
(29/10/2001)
'Hoppers visit the Woodlands - the time for locals to support 'their' Club!
Fylde
welcome their old friends and adversaries, Preston Grasshoppers,
to the Woodlands on Saturday, 28th October, (ko 15.00). With Fylde
coming off the back of a tremendous win at Stourbridge, they will be full
of confidence. Gates have been moderate this season and the team deserves
many more people cheering them on. Please come to the game, and bring
one or more friends along. Fylde locals won't know how important
Fylde RUFC is to the area and the community until the time when its not
there. A game of this stature deserves a gate of over 1,000, and most of
them behind the home side, not 'Hoppers. Do all you can to get people
to the match.
'Hoppers have had a very 'in and out' season so far, although they have had a tough sequence of matches. They started out with a good win at home to Esher (22-21) but then lost at Orrell (16-28), and at home to Stourbridge (13-16) and Plymouth (22-36). A good 30-20 win at Newbury was their first away victory of the season but last Saturday they lost a narrow contest at home to struggling Waterloo by 18-21 (read the Lancashire Evening Post's report). Reports on their other matches, and further background information, is available through their website.
Although they easily beat Bedford Athletic by 44-16 in the RFU Cup, their progress was halted by a 15-59 hammering at home to National One side Birmingham & Solihull.
The 'Hoppers squad has been pretty stable for the past few seasons. Their leading points scorer is the prolific kicking fullback, Chris Glynn. He is in fourth place in the National Two top scorers list with 81 points (1 try, 8 conversions, 20 penalties) compared with Steve Gough who lies in 10th place with 54 points (1 try, 5 conversions, 13 penalties). He is a very reliable kicker with a success rate this season of 74%, compared with Steve Gough's 62%.
Other influential backs are Aussie skipper Michael Lough and his brother Tim, and wingers Paul Bailey and Gary Monaghan. In the pack, stalwart backrower Neil Ashton (two tries against Waterloo on Saturday) is assisted by the immensely powerful lock Josh Williams and newcomer, former England 'A' and Sale lock John Fowler. Fowler has had a dreadful catalogue of injuries which have curtailed his career at the top level but joined 'Hoppers a few weeks ago to restart playing senior rugby. In his prime, a feisty competitor, to say the least, his battle with ex-Sale colleague Dave Baldwin would have been one for aficionados of forward play. Unfortunately, he will be missing from tomorrow's line-up. He only played two matches this season before breaking down in training with an old knee injury.
In an attempt to strengthen the side further, Fylde officials are hoping to sign 27 year old centre Phil Hassan on a month's trial. Hassan has had extensive Super League experience with Leeds, Salford & Halifax rugby league clubs and has been a prolific scorer at this top level. He had a brief spell in rugby union with Worcester. If the deal goes through, it is hoped that Hassan will be registered in time to be added to the squad for the Preston match. With Stuart Connell likely to be sidelined with a pelvic injury, Hassan's availability for the game would be particularly useful. Chairman of rugby Tony Todd said: "Hassan comes here with a reputation of being a hard-tackling, fast-running, elusive centre."
Richard Kenyon continues at full-back after impressing in that new role against Stourbridge. Todd said: "We are trying to find the best way to use his wide variety of skills."
Richard Dinsdale continues at scrum-half, with Lawrence Condon on the bench. Greg Anderton was not considered for selection following a family bereavement. Sale Jet's youngster, Andrew Perry playes his second match for the Club, this time on the wing.
The line-ups are as follows:
Fylde (probable): Kenyon; Perry, Hassan, Davies, Evans; Gough, Dinsdale; Filipo, McIntyre, Yates, Baldwin, Taylor, Jones, Wilson, Lavin. Replacements: Webster, Scott, Bradwell, Condon.
Preston from: Glynn, T Lough, P Bailey, Chesworth, Monaghan, M Lough, Du Pre, Fenton, Carter, Wilkinson, Jebb, Parkinson, Ashton, M Bailey, Shepherd, Barrow.
Hard taskmaster and coach Dean Kenny, who has been critical of the team's performances throughout these early weeks of the season, was delighted with their show at Stourbridge. He was particularly keen to see a 15-man game, with the backs doing their bit, and not only in defence. Its worth pointing out that Fylde have scored nine tries in the last two matches, four by backs, and have exceeded 30 ponts on each occasion. Nothing too exciting about that you may say, but we didn't reach that threshold once last season, even against everybody's whipping boys, West Hartlepool.
Saturday's matches are below. Flushed with the relative success of our predictions of last Saturday's matches (5 out of 7 correct; predicted home wins by 'Hoppers over Waterloo and Harrogate over Rosslyn Park didn't happen), forecast winners are in italics:
Fylde
v
Preston G.
Kendal
v Harrogate
Plymouth
Albion v Nottingham
Rosslyn
Park v
Esher
Sedgley
Park v
Orrell
Waterloo
v Newbury
Wharfedale
v Stourbridge
Stephen
McCormack's analysis at the end of Week 6 of National Two is available
(as a 145k Word document) by clicking here.
(22/10/2001)
And
thanks to our sponsors ...
Fylde's President, Graham Sharman, sends his personal thanks to the Club's sponsors.
"I
would like to thank Napthen Houghton Craven,
Saturday's
match
sponsors. (and ball sponsors Vaillant
Ltd ) and wish all their guests a happy and enjoyable afternoon
with us.
Many thanks to our Barrel sponsors generally and, on Saturday, Napthen Houghton Craven.
I would
also like to thank all our past and future sponsors, programme and pitch
board advertisers, for their support of the club this season."
English Divisions squad selected for Aussies match
The squad selected to play the visiting Australians on the opening game of their tour at Leicester on Sunday, 28th October, is almost wholly made up of National One players. The exception is Esher's Harvey Thornycroft (ex-Northampton). Penzance's Martin Haag (ex-Bath) was selected but is injured. It would appear that no overseas players have been chosen. Henley and London Welsh, hardly setting National One alight, contribute four players - but, there again, their club coaches, together with Ian Bremner from Exeter (another three players) make up the managerial and coaching staff to the Divisions for these two matches! The full squad is:
Backs:
Ben Hinshelwood (Worcester)
Lee Hinton (Moseley)
Harvey Thorneycroft (Esher)
Pete Massey (Rotherham)
Duncan Roke (Worcester)
Ben Ayres (Henley Hawks)
James Shanahan (Bedford)
Simon Binns (Otley)
Phil Greaves (Otley)
Alex Birkby (London Welsh)
Forwards:
Nick Lloyd (Wakefield)
Rob Baxter (Exeter Chiefs)
Steve Pope (London Welsh)
Julian Hyde (Birmingham)
Phil Sluman (Exeter Chiefs)
Neil Spence (Rotherham)
Sam Blythe (Wakefield)
Rich Baxter (Exeter Chiefs)
Chris Ritchie (London Welsh)
Russell Earnshaw (Rotherham)
Dave Simms (Worcester)
Standby players are: Phil Graham (Manchester), Dom Chapman (Bracknell), Stuart Potter (Rugby), Matt Oliver (Exeter), Rob Lilley (Wakefield), Warwick Bullock (Birmingham), G. Manuel (Wakefield), Tim Collier (Rugby, Gary Willis (Exeter) and Ian Patten (Moseley)
Meanwhile the England National Divisions side have been forced to make four changes due to injuries. Sam Blyth (Wakefield) comes in at hooker for the skipper Chris Johnson. Nick Lloyd (Wakefield) replaces Jim Thorpe at prop. Julian Hyde replaces Martin Haag in the second row and Alex Birkby replaces Charlie Harrison
Backtracking: Neil Withington goes back 5, 10 & 20 years into the Archive
Neil Withington looks back at previous games against Preston Grasshoppers and October matches five, ten and twenty years ago. And a nice 1991 photograph of that excellent scrumhalf John Wright, who's back plying his trade with his beloved Fleetwood.
Fylde put in their best performance away from the Woodlands for many years in beating a strong Stourbridge side by 35-12 on Saturday. There were excellent performances throughout the team, but Steve Gough justifiably grabbed the headlines with a total of 20 points. He scored a try, kicked three conversions and three penalties. Other try scorers were Brett Wilson, Gareth Davies and Chris Jones.
There is a visibly growing confidence throughout the squad which will make the Club a handful for any National League Two opponents. There are some very strong personalities in the squad and enough natural leaders to shake a stick at. Once again, the performance of the pack was outstanding, but this time there was strong support (with tenacious midfield tackling) from the backline. This win wasn't against struggling opponents. Stourbridge are a big and powerful side and had won four out of their five matches up to Saturday. Their only defeat was at home by an almost identical score against the clear league leaders, Plymouth.
A close first half saw Stourbridge in the lead by 9-6 via three converted penalties to Steve Gough's two. As the half came to an end, Gough kicked a penalty deep to the Stourbridge line. The familiar line out catch and drive saw the inevitable try, scored this time by Brent Wilson. Gough converted to take Fylde into a lead of 13-9 at the break.
Stour's reliable goal kicker Ben Harvey reduced the deficit to 12-13 early in the 2nd half. Then, a clean break by fullback Richard Kenyon, one of the few throughout the game, took Fylde deep into the Stourbridge half. Although he was caught, the home side eventually killed the ball and Gough extended the lead. After 64 minutes the visitors made the crucial score. Taking advantage of the sinbinning of No 8 Brett Scriven, the Fylde backrow drew the defence and Gareth Davies linked up to score a try.
With Fylde leading by 23-12 almost into injury time, Stourbridge committed themselves totally to attack. Their movement broke down, Lawrence Condon ran from his own half before making a perfect pass to Steve Gough who did the rest - in all, a 70 metre try. There was still time for Fylde to win another lineout near the Stour tryline and once again set up a deadly driving maul. This time, new flanker Chris Jones was the last man up. This was Jones' second try in two full appearances since moving on loan to Fylde from Sale.
Although the final score maybe, just maybe, flattered Fylde, this was acknowledged by all as an excellent performance. This account of the match draws heavily on the admirably fair report by Stourbridges' Vernon Davies, to whom we are very grateful. The Evening Gazette's report is available by clicking here.
The game marked the debut of young scrum-half Richard Dinsdale.
Stuart Connell suffered a worrying pelvic injury and was replaced by Lawrence Condon just before half-time. On the subject of injured players, the most serious case, new flanker Andy Atkinson, has damaged cruciate knee ligaments and is expected to be out of the game for several months. News is better of other long term absentees - both flanker/No 8 Dylan O'Grady and utility back Gavin Moffat are a couple of weeks from returning to training after shoulder and knee surgery respectively.
Fylde: (15) Kenyon;
(14) Evans; (13) Connell (Condon); (12) Davies; (11) Kerr; (10) Gough;
(9) Dinsdale; (1) Filipo; (2) McIntyre; (3) Yates (Webster); (4) Taylor;
(5) Baldwin; (6) Jones; (7) C.Lavin; (8) B.Wilson
Unused replacements: (16)
Scott; (19) Ferguson
Stourbridge: Beauchamp, Myler, Hughes, Eastwood (John 62), Farani, Harvey, Fenley, Hartland, Merritt, Ferguson, Tisdale, Aston, Hynes (Russell 24), N Richardson (Hartland 80), Scriven.
The win gives Fylde a share of 2nd place in National Two, although they lie sixth on points difference. They are level on eight points with Orrell, Esher, Sedgley Park and Stourbridge. With their 40-12 win at Newbury, Plymouth Albion maintain their 100% record and lead the table on 12 points. Esher had an excellent, narrow 16-14 victory at home against Sedgely Park; Orrell dispatched Wharfedale 44-16, after being level at 13-all at halftime. Strugglers Nottingham and Waterloo had excellent victories over Kendal and Preston accordingly. The amazingly unpredictable Rosslyn Park, joint bottom of the table, visited Harrogate and won by 36-29. Newbury are now bottom of the table, with only one win to their credit, ironically against Orrell.
Fylde can now look forward to their next three league matches - at home to 'Hoppers on Saturday next, away at Newbury (10th November) and at home to Waterloo (17th November). This sequence is interrupted by the extremely tough 4th Round Cup match at Orrell (3rd November) and the month ends with Plymouth visiting the Woodlands. The Devonians remain unbeaten for 36 league matches. Come what may betweennow and then, it's likely to be a tremendous match.
Lytham also won at the weekend, by 10-3 at Calder Vale. Click here for a report on the game. They lie in joint 2nd place (with 8 points out of a possible 10) in North Lancs Two, with Trafford MV and Eccles. Fleetwood have a 100% record and top the table.
Fylde players with most 1st XV appearances
Since the mid-1970s, from which time reliable records are available, the following players top the list of first team appearances for Fylde:
Mickey Weir
567 (51 tries, 230pts)
Dave Young
468 (21 tries, 86pts)
Mike Dixon
416 (48 tries, 195 pts)
Jon Taylor
338 (17 tries, 74 pts)
Brendan Hanavan 324
(198 tries, 839 pts)
Mark Hesketh
318 (84 tries, 336 pts)
Stephen Gough
311 (57 tries, 1420 pts)
Micky Weir's record is amazing. Given the nature of modern league rugby, it is almost impossible to imagine that any player will ever get near this number of matches. The only ever present player last season, Dylan O'Grady, chalked up 28 appearances. At that rate, assuming no injuries, it would take 20 years to reach 570 appearances! Its good to see that two of these players, JT and Goughie, are still doing their stuff for the Club at the highest level. Brendan Hanovan is part of the current Fylde coaching setup, as Mike Dixon has been over recent years. And Dave Young, who has done his share of team management a few years ago, is a regular spectator at matches. One big family!
Thanks to Neil Withington
and Stewart Brown for this information. Neil is looking into the archives
to get comparable data on earlier generations of Fylde players.