Fylde travel 15 miles to Preston Grasshoppers on Saturday (ko 14.30) for the latest game between the neighbours over a period of 106 years.
‘Hoppers had an excellent start to the National 2 (North) season last Saturday with a definitive 46-24 home victory over Billingham. From a close 28-24 lead early in the 2nd half, Hoppers pulled away with a burst of scoring in the final quarter. Stars of the show included winger Sam Freeman who notched a hat trick of tries and former Fylde fly-half Greg Smith who kicked 16 points.
‘Hoppers’ announced a number of newcomers to their 1st XV squad in the close season including two former Fylde props – Jonny Wild and Ben Corless – Harrison Causley, Louis Singleton, Zepher Maher, Jamie Atherton, Joe Sutton, Sam Staniforth, Will Porter, Tom Ailes and Billy Glover.
Backrower Josh Longson is the new skipper this season with Rory Brand and Scott Richardson as VCs.
Whilst Fylde have held the bragging rights in the last 20 years in National 2 (North) – 17 wins, 4 defeats & 1 draw – curiously they’ve struggled more at the Woodlands than at Lightfoot Green. In the last three seasons, Fylde have edged home matches by 32-29 (2022-3), 33-27 (2023-4) and 22-20 (2024-25). At Lightfoot Green they have had bigger wins – 6-22 (2022-23), 27-41 (2023-24) & 12-38 (2024-25). This will be a very tough challenge for the visitors.
Fylde fielded six debutants against Hull Ionians last Saturday – Danny Cassidy, Leo Gilliland, Gabe Maguire, Ben Walton, Will Greenwood and Kyle Macauley – and they all contributed usefully to the 22-all draw at the Woodlands.
They make three personnel changes in their starting line-up compared with a week ago. In the pack, Greg Morgan is in the 2nd row whilst in the backs, Tom Forster and Jordan Dorrington start. Olly Trippier returns to the action and is named amongst the replacements.
Peter Altham, Toby Harrison, Will Hunt, Sam Stott, Tom Forster, Jordan Dorrington and Olly Trippier have all spent periods at Lightfoot Green.
On the other side, Ben Corless, Sam Kyle-Clay, Rory Brand, Greg Smith and Sammy Russell have all appeared in Fylde shirts at one level or another.
Ben Walton, Leo Galliland, Will Greenwood and Kyle Macaulay will experience the special atmosphere of this National League local derby for the first time.
The Hoppers line-up is:
