Fylde 50 Blackburn 29
Report by Elliot Burrow & Allan Foster
The sun was out and the thermometer sky high as Fylde entertained North Premier side Blackburn at The Woodlands on Saturday afternoon following on from the Hawks successful runout the previous weekend against Perthshire.
With the league season fast approaching, the first league game is at home on Sept 3rd against Chester, it gave a chance for coaches Alex Loney and Chris Briers to have a look at the squad they have assembled this season.
A 30-man squad turned out, with the late withdrawal of top try scorer Tom Carleton who was delayed at work. There was a starting debut for Lancashire centre Sam Stott and also debuts off the bench for hooker Joe Corkish and flanker Henry Higginson. The Fylde line-up also saw the return to the Club of experienced Lancashire County prop Peter Altham, flanker Toby Harrison and back-five forward James Robinson.
It was also notable for the return of star back Connor Wilkinson who missed all of last season through injury, and the senior debut for England Under 18’s player of the 2022 6 Nations Tournament, local lad Tristan Woodman.
Blackburn enjoyed a fine 2021/2022 campaign, finishing third in the table and narrowly missing out on promotion behind Otley and Preston Grasshoppers. They had a whole host of former Fylde players in their ranks, with ex captain Greg Nicholls (head coach) and Tom Lavelle (forward coach) and hooker Tom Burtonwood, centre Sammy Russell, prop Adam Joyner, flanker Jamie Brookes and winger Jake Foster also returning to the Woodlands.
Fylde opened the scoring after three minutes when Harlan Corrie crashed over from close range, Greg Smith converting.
Blackburn hit back immediately with a powerful drive up the left by Sammy Russell which he then moved out to the wing to Jake Foster who dotted down.
Adam Lanigan was used as an occasional winger last season and finished it in excellent try scoring form. He carried on that success when he restored Fylde’s seven point lead by diving over in the corner to make it 12-5.
After the first water break due to the heat, the home side scored again after a smart Greg Smith kick found captain Gregory who was out lurking on the left wing. He passed back on the inside to Olli Parkinson who came flying onto the ball and wasn’t to be stopped from close range to score, Smith converting to make it 19-5.
Tom Forster then bounced off a tackle to go over and extend Fylde’s advantage, before Lanigan grabbed his second with a superb chip kick which he re-collected to touch down,
Fylde led 33-5 at the end of the second quarter.
Blackburn hit back in the 50th minute when Jamie Brookes ploughed over to touch down following a visitors’ scrummage. ‘Burn were on a roll now and scored wide out down the right to close the deficit to 33-15.
Order was restored for the home side when, following a long period of retained possession, scrum-half Matt Sturgess finished off in style to extend the lead.
Greg Smith was having an authoritative game, with his superb distribution always threatening to set up other opportunities for team mates. But it was his opportunism in the 60th minute which saw him anticipate a long Blackburn pass, intercept and trot in from 50m to the line for the try. His conversion took the score to 45-15. But the fun wasn’t over yet!
Blackburn hit back almost immediately when from a concerted drive by the pack one of the forwards drove over, with the conversion adding the extras.
It was then Fylde’s turn as they attacked down the right, this time with debutant Henry Higginson finishing off the move with his first try for the Club near the corner. Still Blackburn heads didn’t drop as in the final seconds they counter attacked from deep and scored a long distance try under the posts for a final score of 50-29.
This was a good work out for all members of the squad and, although rather fractured by the constant swapping of players to give all 31 game time, it served the coaches to see all the players in action before having to make some hard decisions ahead of league competition.
Blackburn looked a more than competent outfit with a big and powerful pack and backs who enjoyed the wide expanse of the Woodlands. They appear likely to be a major promotion contender in North Premier this season.
Fylde’s final pre-season game will be a tough challenge when a smaller squad will travel to Heywood Road to take on National One high flyers Sale FC next Saturday.
Click here for Chris Farrow’s 187 photos from the heart of the action https://bit.ly/3SHWuKa
Featured players below are Sam Stott, Toby Harrison, Peter Altham & Tristan Woodman, Henry Higginson, Connor Wilkinson & Ben Gould.
