Fylde welcome old friends and rivals Blaydon to the Woodlands on Saturday (ko 15.00).
Whilst Fylde’s record against the Northumbrians at the Woodlands is respectable, the Crow Trees ground is probably the Lancastrians least favourite venue as they have a woeful record there since the first ever fixture between the clubs in September 2003. In the eleven league games at the ground up to the 2016-7 season, Fylde have suffered nine defeats. Only in February 2015 (24-28) and more decisively this season (20-40) did they turn the tables.
In four seasons in National Two (North) between 2003-4 and 2006-7, Blaydon won seven of the eight games. Blaydon were promoted to National One in 2007-8 and fixtures weren’t resumed until 2011 when Fylde reached that division. Fylde have fared much better at the Woodlands from 2012 onwards but are still 8-13 down in wins overall.
In their 10 seasons in National One, Blaydon initially were placed in the top six clubs but, very like Fylde’s spell at that level (2011-2018), they gradually slipped down the division until they were relegated at the end of the 2016-17 season. Also like Fylde, they punched well above their weight in terms of available financial resources during this period. Clearly, their links to Newcastle Falcons helped with the use of dual registration to bring in talented young players for limited spells.
Relegation to N2N at the end of the 2016-17 season was followed by a very disappointing season which saw them relegated once more in 2018-19 to regional North Premier league. They soon picked themselves up and finished runners-up in the truncated 2019-20 campaign and back they came to National Two (North).
This season has been a struggle and losing 12 of their first 13 games set them back on their heels with only a 26-27 victory at Bournville to lift the gloom. However, in recent weeks their form is much improved and they come to the Woodlands on the back of successive home victories against Bournville (36-14) and Sheffield Tigers (26-14). They currently sit in 15th place in the division. However, Fylde will again face a tough, physical challenge if this match is anything like previous encounters.
Blaydon’s traditional strength has been a very strong pack, including in the mid-2010/20s five of the England Counties eight. One of the backbones during this period was loyal, legendary back five forward and England Counties skipper Keith Laughlin who is now player-coach.
The Club has excellent facilities and healthy revenue generating ventures like its famous car boot sale. More recently, it has installed a splendid 4G surface on the main pitch.
Blaydon’s back line usually includes experienced fullback Nathan Bailey, centre or wing James Cooney and halfbacks Nathan Horsfall (or Dan Marshall) and John Clarkson who has taken over the goal kicking of late.
A newcomer this season has been winger Iwan Stephens, a young talent who crossed codes to join the Falcons’ senior academy in the summer of 2020, signing from Super League side Leeds Rhinos. Rugby union runs in the Stephens family, however, with Iwan’s father Colin being a former Welsh international fly-half who famously kicked Llanelli to victory over then world champions Australia back in 1992. Colin’s playing career eventually took him to Sedgley Park and Leeds Tykes, with Iwan growing up playing both codes before specialising in rugby league with the Rhinos, prior to his Falcons move. He made a dramatic start to his Premiership career by scoring tries for the Falcons against Bath Rugby and Harlequins in his two starts before stepping down because of the return of England prospect Nathan Earles and Argentinian Mateo Carreras.
The Blaydon pack is a strong unit with a particularly powerful front row featuring former Newcastle Falcons Premiership prop Darren Fearn, Phil Brantingham and Alex Dodds. The lock partnership is usually Liam Wright and, on the basis of last Saturday’s performance against Sheffield Tigers, N2N Man of the Week, Austin Phillips. No 8 Ethan Clarke is also a very influential forward.
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Fylde make two changes to their starting line-up for the visit of Blaydon RFC to the Woodlands on Saturday (ko 3pm).
Matt Ashcroft is at tighthead prop & David Fairbrother is at no 8.
