Sheffield Tigers 34 v Fylde 21: match report by Simon Taylor
Fylde’s recent revival was nipped in the bud as they travelled back from the windswept hilltops of Dore Moor empty handed. After a poor and slow start saw them trail 17-0 after 19 minutes, Fylde battled back to lead 21-17 after 50 minutes. However, despite then playing with a strong wind behind them, Fylde failed to capitalise on their elemental advantage as the Tigers showed excellent game management to monopolise possession, stay patient, regain the lead and grind out a well-deserved 5 league points in what has become their best campaign for several years.
Dore Moor is a tough place to visit, and a good start is essential. Unfortunately, Fylde were slow to get off the bus, and conceded two tries in the first 3 minutes, both in similar fashion. Straight from the kick off Tigers re-gathered and worked the ball to the left edge creating space for a too easy score as winger Jamie Rudd raced in. Rudd failed to convert his own try in the swirling wind, but Sheffield had a first minute 5-0 lead. Fylde then had their first possession of the game but the out of luck Sam Stott suffered another injury, Fylde lost the ball, and with Stott still being helped from the field, Tigers kicked through, Rudd raced on to the kick, drew the last man and fed back inside for veteran centre Jamie Broadley to get the first of what would be a fine hat-trick. This one was also unconverted, but Fylde were 10-0 down with only 3 minutes gone, and Alex Clayton an early replacement for Stott.
Fylde had a great chance to respond when Will Hunt slipped a neat pass to Corey Bowker deep in Fylde’s half and the pacy prop raced 70 yards into the Sheffield 22, only for the ball to be dislodged as Hunt provided the overlap option. Fylde were made to pay on 19 minutes when Sheffield kicked a penalty into the Fylde 22 and won good lineout ball off the top. A strong carry through the middle by centre Ben Manderfield allowed the Tigers runner to free his arms and pop the ball to Broadley who crashed over for his second try, Rudd’s first kick success stretching the lead to 17-0.
Fylde had to be the next to score and they did so on 22 minutes, profiting from a first error of the day by the home team. The ball was spilled in their back line near Fylde’s 22 and Dan Slawson, at full back for Fylde this time out, snaffled the loose ball and kicked ahead. Will Hunt was the quickest on the chase, gathered the bouncing ball and raced under the sticks, making Slawson’s conversion easy, even into the wind, and Fylde had a toehold in the game at 17-7 down. Back came the Tigers and Fylde were under a lot of pressure, good goal line defence forcing the knock on as Tigers looked set to score again.
Fylde hung in there and on 31 minutes struck from deep. Skipper Dave Fairbrother won an excellent turnover penalty on his own 22 and tapped the penalty, setting off as Tigers were on the back foot. Good hands and support play gave Bowker another sniff of a break and he took it this time, not needing any support as he busted through two tackles and raced in from 30 out, Slawson converting again, and Fylde were well and truly back in at 17-14 down. Fylde were able to negate any further Tigers forays and would have been very happy to get into the sheds at half time only 3 points in arrears, especially given the start they had, and the fact they had played into the strong wind.
Rob Williamson replaced Olli Trippier at hooker at the break and Fylde looked forward to having the wind at their backs for the second stanza. However, home nous can’t be underestimated, and Tigers are used to playing on an exposed hillside and the challenges that brings. Despite having the elements in their favour now, Fylde were to find out it is hard to make use of them if you haven’t got the ball. Tigers began a campaign of win the ball, keep the ball, work hard, and inch your way up field. This frustrated Fylde until the 50th minute, when arch poacher Will Hunt, ever with the eye for an intercept, picked off a pass on his own 22 and set off uphill. Jamie Broadley was the Tiger on the Hunt, gave chase, and looked like he was about to feast on his prey, only for Hunt to shrug him off as he pounced, and reach the safety of the try line to dot down. All 3 tries had been under the sticks, Slawson converting again, and Fylde had chased down the Tigers lead, edging ahead 21-17.
Fylde made changes as there was a welcome return for Mike Walton after a long layoff, Trippier also returning, as Greg Morgan and Corey Bowker made way. The most notable change was on the home team, as fly-half Mark Ireland made way for the final time, having announced this was to be his final game. A servant of the Tigers for 10 years, and one of if not the highest point scorers in the National Leagues, Ireland has been a tremendous servant and excellent player, often the scourge of Fylde, and he was quite rightly given the applause he deserved as he made his way off for the last time.
Fylde would have hoped to have pushed on and pin the Tigers back utilising the strong wind. That was easier said than done, as they struggled to secure enough quality ball to dictate matters, and never got into good enough field position to build meaningful pressure. The penalty count mounted against Fylde, and Tigers worked tirelessly to build phase after phase, yards hard earned. On 56 minutes Sheffield re-took the lead as Jacob Jamieson was the last man in support to go over, and a fine conversion into the wind by Rudd saw Tigers back in front 24-21.
Adam Lanigan replaced Ben Turner and Greg Morgan came back on for Ben Dorrington, who had put himself about and worked hard all day. Fylde still had plenty of time, but the Tigers were managing the game and conditions excellently. Their error and penalty count was very low, and they struck again on 64 minutes. From deep in their own half, they worked a back move right, re-cycled quickly the same way and Broadley found himself in the clear for a 30-yard run in, unconverted but now Tigers had a two-score lead at 29-21.
From the re-start Adam Lanigan did well to gather and Fylde were in good field position at last. However, long passes were difficult in the wind, and Fylde were perhaps guilty of resorting to them too early, as a couple went to ground, giving possession back to the Tigers. Tigers forced more penalties, camped down in Fylde’s 22, and despite some fierce goal line defence, Tigers kept the ball long enough to force a final score of the day on 78 minutes, as strong running centre Ben Manderfield went over to make it 34-21. The Tigers saw out the final few minutes without much fuss, meaning Fylde could not salvage a try bonus point.
Fylde’s effort levels can rarely be faulted, and there was no lack of industry in their display. Having clawed their way back into the lead after a bit of a horror of a start to the game, and having a strong wind at their backs, they would have been disappointed not to have pushed on. However, there is no denying that the Tigers managed the conditions and the game to better effect, especially the last half hour, and they deserved their win, giving Mark Ireland one more national league victory to add his tally in his final game.
Fylde remain 6th in the table on 73 points. With 7th placed Wharfedale handing champions Sheffield their first loss of the season they have narrowed the gap to Fylde to 5 points. With 2 games left Fylde will want to finish well.
Joint head coach Alex Loney commented: “We are disappointed to have lost a game we could have won. The conditions were challenging for both teams who had to adapt tactically either with or against the wind. After the early tries we conceded the lads showed good composure to build phases and get it back to 17-14 by the break. Once we got the lead, we just lost our composure a bit, lost some accuracy and made some tactical errors. When we got 2 scores behind it was tough to chase but we can’t fault the effort, we continued to defend our line to the end against a strong running team. We will work on showing up physically and performing next week in our last home game against Rossendale in what should be a busy day for the club then carry that through to our final game away at Hull Ionians the week after.”
Fylde: Slawson (Turner 73), Turner (Lanigan 57), Forster, Stott (Clayton 3), Dorrington J, Hunt, Gould, Fairbrother (Captain), Dorrington B (Morgan 60), Morgan Walton M. 50), Garrod, Walton B, Rudkin (Assad 79), Trippier (Williamson 40), Bowker (Trippier 50)
Tigers: Baker, Dodsworth, Broadley, Manderfield, Rudd, Ireland (Fenton 52), Talbot, Gladwin, Redfern-Brown, Santamaria (Goff 71), Harrison, Fitzsimons (Bulgacs 60), Simmons (Wand 3), Crowe (Jamieson 50), Bennett
