Fylde’s Half-term Report: Sep-Dec 2021

In this mid-season break in National League rugby, it’s an opportune time to look back at the 1st XV’s 2021-22 season so far. Firstly, it’s been a delight to get back to real rugby after an 18 month break due to the pandemic. Up to now, and this might change at any moment due to the Omicron variant, we have thankfully seen a return to club rugby in the fashion to which we’ve grown accustomed in recent seasons. There have been some fine games and the Clubhouse has been buzzing with social interaction and camaraderie – and not just on 1st XV match days but also for the Hawks and the other social teams, for one or two representative matches and, of course, the Mini-Juniors on Sundays.

The preparation for the new season wasn’t perfect as full contact rugby wasn’t allowed at our level of the so called ‘community game’ until late summer. Some of the 2019-20 squad left to find their career fortunes elsewhere, mainly in the south of England. We lost a clutch of excellent forwards including skipper Adam Lewis (to retirement), fellow prop Elliot Horner, and big back five forwards Nick Ashcroft, Jacob Conner and Hal Chapman who all migrated south.

Our two new Joint Head Coaches Chris Briers and Alex Loney soon settled to the task of building up the squad, mainly with the recruitment of various young talents who were schooled or resident in the local area. Aled Trenhaile, the ‘Welsh Wizard’ who has guided the recent generation of players at Kirkham Grammar School, also joined the coaching staff. A young physio team is now led by Molly Hart-Ryan and Dominic Moon was appointed as Hawks Coach. The backroom support has been made up of Warren Atkinson (Rugby Operations Manager), Ian Pearson (Logistics Mgr), loyal servant Peter Conway (Resources Mgr) with assistance from Ian Cosh. Overall, Mark Nelson covered for elected Chairman of Rugby Steve Rigby during the first half of the season. It’s fantastic to have the benefit of the considerable knowledge and experience of ‘Riggers’ and ‘Nellie’ as well as using them as a sounding board.

Given Aled Trenhaile’s involvement, it was unsurprising that a number of former KGS players were targeted and signed for the 21-22 season. These included backrowers Tane Bentley, Marcus Blake & Charlie Partington, front rowers Corey Bowker (a member of the Scottish U’20s squad), Sam Parker and Ethan Hulme, who all made their 1st XV debuts in National League games. They were supplemented by the promotion of prop Zack Barrow and wing Sam Fisher from the Hawks and the return to the Club of former Junior and Colts prop Sam Kyle-Clay who had gained North Premier experience in the last two seasons.

Scrumhalf Matt Sturgess was an excellent capture from Sale Sharks and made his early season debut alongside utility back Scott Jordan who moved a few miles up the road from Lightfoot Green. The return to the Club of powerful Cumbrian back five forward Harlan Corrie after a season at Kendal was also a major boost as was his county colleague, popular winger Henry Hadfield. A new wing prospect, Ben Turner, also signed up and has made his mark with a couple of important tries.

But early season injuries after such a long layoff were soon to disrupt the coaches’ plans. In the pre-season friendly against Sale FC at the Woodlands, one of the stars of the backline in the past four seasons, centre Connor Wilkinson, badly injured his ACL and this required surgery and a long break, maybe a whole season, from playing action. Loyal flanker Ben Vernon is yet to return to action after missing all the games so far as has new hooking recruit Pan Stylianou who is injured.

Once the season began various players picked up injuries which ruled them out of short-term action. These included Scott Jordan who played in five matches but was missing since mid-October until mid-December and prop Matt Ashcroft. More recent injuries to fellow props Zack Barrow and Sam Kyle-Clay led to the loan from Lymm RUFC during December of another former KGS student Joe Higgins and the temporary return from retirement of Adam Lewis to help out his old club.

It’s to the great credit of the coaching staff that of the 29 players who have featured in the 15 matches to date, no fewer than 13 players have made their 1st XV debuts since September and have been integrated smoothly into the squad. Without exception they have all looked comfortable at National League level and have made excellent contributions to the squads’ achievements to date. Additionally, new skipper Ben Gregory has warmed to the task of leading the 1st XV and this hasn’t restricted to his prolific try scoring as he has notched 9 to date.

The excellent coaching and player development in the squad has been especially notable. A distinct set of playing principles has been established and is the basis of future plans to take this squad further. It’s been exciting to watch this development and our priority is for the lads to continue to improve, to relish the challenge they face at National League level and to keep them together as a group.

The 1st XV are sitting comfortably in 5th place in National Two (North) and are in a good position to challenge for a place in the group of top four clubs chasing promotion. How does this compare with the last season (2019-20)? After 15 games Fylde were in 2nd place in the division, had won 11, drawn 1 and lost 3, with an aggregate of 456 points for, 274 against, and a league points total of 58. This is very similar to this season where the comparatives are 11 victories, 4 defeats, an aggregate of 529 points for, 273 against, and a league points total of 53. So these are remarkably similar.

This season Fylde have a perfect seven out of seven victories at the Woodlands including a fine win over then unbeaten league leaders, Stourbridge in dreadful weather conditions. Form away from the Woodlands has been rather more problematic with four wins and four defeats. Three of these setbacks were at clubs leading the division – Rotherham Titans, Sedgley Tigers and Hull RUFC.

Many of the 11 victories have featured high scoring, running rugby which has thrilled spectators, particularly at home. Fylde lead the ‘points scored’ ranking in N2(N), and 2nd overall amongst 47 National League clubs, with 529 to date, an average of 35 points per game. Big home wins including against Harrogate (80-26) & Bournville (73-7) alongside away losses against the leading clubs might have led to the accusation that Fylde were ‘flat track bullies’, hammering lesser teams but unable to beat the best. However, victories against Hull Ionians and, in particular, against Stourbridge, put the lie to that notion.

The back division has been dangerous in all the games, with top try scorer in recent seasons, fullback (more recently centre) Tom Carleton, once again leading the N2(N) ranking with 18 to date. Almost as prolific has been winger Tom Grimes who has also been outstanding with 16 at this halfway stage of the campaign. Fly-half Greg Smith has benefitted from the try fest and has converted 49, plus 10 penalties and has run in four tries himself to lead the N2(N) points scoring ranking with 148 points.

Fylde is the only team in N2(N) not to have suffered any postponements in their 15 matches to date, a lucky situation compared with, say, Rotherham Titans who have only played 12. This leaves the South Yorkshire club with re-scheduled games stretching into May.

Fylde have 8 home games until the end of April and 7 away from the Woodlands. They will look forward, in particular, to entertaining leading clubs Rotherham Titans (29th January), Sedgley Park (19th Feb) and Hull RUFC (16th Apr). The results of these games might well be very influential in the determination of final league positions.

There is still much uncertainty about the shape of the National Leagues in 2022-23. Crucial issues of promotion and relegation will have to be decided alongside the major re-structuring of level four, National Two. The current two divisions – South and North/Midlands – made up of 16 teams each will be replaced by three regional leagues of 14 clubs All we can hope is that these decisions are made by the RFU and National League in plenty of time to allow all clubs to plan their 22-23 seasons sensibly.

In the meantime, let’s get behind the young squad and be confident in their collective abilities, whatever the final league position.