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 last 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 9-13 down in wins overall.
| Woodlands | Crow Trees | |||
| 2003-4 | 6-15 | L | 41-6 | L |
| 2004-5 | 32-3 | W | 25-15 | L |
| 2005-6 | 13-48 | L | 27-13 | L |
| 2006-7 | 15-20 | L | 15-6 | L |
| 2011-12 | 10-34 | L | 33-17 | L |
| 2012-13 | 23-19 | W | 41-17 | L |
| 2013-14 | 9-5 | W | 15-14 | L |
| 2014-15 | 42-24 | W | 24-28 | W |
| 2015-16 | 10-8 | W | 34-17 | L |
| 2016-17 | 26-17 | W | 30-24 | L |
| 2021-22 | 79-31 | W | 20-40 | W |
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.
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).
Last season was a struggle from the beginning, losing 12 of their first 13 games. Their form was much improved after Christmas and they climbed the league table. They eventually finished in 14th place and would in previous seasons have been relegated once more. However, the reorganisation of National Two divisions saved them and, together with 15th placed Huddersfield and Harrogate in 16th, they lived to fight another day.
The 2022-23 season also hasn’t started too well for the Crow Trees club with four defeats to date. The first two matches were close affairs, a stern battle at home to Hull Ionians (21-34) and an agonising 26-30 home loss to neighbours Tynedale. Two more defeats followed, 50-3 at Rotherham Titans and 7-46 against Wharfedale at Crow Trees last Saturday.
However, Fylde will again face a tough, physical challenge if this match is anything like previous encounters.
Loyal servant to Blaydon, Keith Loughlin, stood down from his role as Director of Rugby at the end of last season and he’s been succeeded by former backs coach and Newcastle Falcons 1st XV scrum-half Sam Stuart. The Cheltenham-born scrum-half joined Newcastle Falcons in the summer of 2017. An England international at Under-16s, 18s and 20s level, Stuart was part of Harlequins’ Academy before joining near neighbours Richmond. Stuart made 10 Premiership appearances in his debut season with the Falcons and also helped the club reach the final of the 2018 World Club 10s in Mauritius. Making four starts during 2018-19 and featuring regularly from the bench, Stuart renewed terms with the club in the summer of 2019 for another two seasons. Helping the Falcons to promotion in 2019-20 and scoring four tries in 12 games during 2020-21, Stuart signed a new two-year deal in the summer of 2021 and played five times in 2021-22, sadly missing much of the campaign with a foot injury.
Stuart is assisted by newly appointed Forwards Coach, the vastly experienced former hooker/flanker Ralph Appleby who has joined from Darlington Mowden Park where he made 351 appearances over a 14 year period!
Blaydon’s traditional strength has been a very strong pack, including in the mid-2010/20s five of the England Counties eight. The roster of forwards has undergone numerous changes compared with recent seasons, with a handful of young, domestic players coming through their development system and making their mark alongside experienced National League regulars.
A prominent newcomer is the powerful former Worcester Warriors and Newcastle Falcons Premiership lock Darren Barry who played last season for French Pro Div 2 club RC Vannes. He’s been partnering local product Jack Inglis in the row. Ralph Appleby has brought his experience of National League rugby back to the pitch by playing at both prop and flanker already this campaign. Openside flanker Liam Wright is regularly on the score sheet and he’s joined in the backrow by the influential Ethan Clarke and Northumberland U’20s no 8 Will Varley.
Blaydon’s back line is very stable and usually includes experienced fullback Nathan Bailey, centre or wing James Cooney, centre Alex Clark and halfbacks Nathan Horsfall (or Dan Marshall) and scrum-half John Clarkson who is also the principal goalkicker. They will pose serious issues for the Fylde defence.
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