The Blackpool Gazette’s Sports Editor Andy Moore spoke to Fylde Joint Head Coach Chris Briers in mid-week. [Reproduced courtesy of the Gazette]
————————-
They may be top of the league with maximum points after five straight wins – but that doesn’t mean the players of Fylde RFC can put their feet up as they look forward to their first weekend off this season.
“We may even up the intensity in training,” joint-head coach Chris Briers told The Gazette, “and use the break to get more into the players’ legs.
“It’s really about building on what we’ve already started. We tend not to be reactionary in coaching but keep on working on things we could get better at.”
Tough taskmaster Briers always sees room for improvement, even though Fylde have earned their rest after scoring more than 200 points already in National Two North, averaging above 40 per game.
They maintained that average with last Saturday’s 42-7 victory against a winless Blaydon side at the Woodlands.
Fylde have a two-point lead at the top after Sedgley Park, the only other club with five wins to their name, missed out on a bonus point for the second time last weekend.
They were restricted to two tries in a hard-fought 18-10 home win over Hull Ionians.
“Yes, we’re really pleased with the way our season has gone so far,” added Briers. “Our play was a bit disjointed at times but we can’t complain with eight tries.
“We started the game really well, with some good tries and good set-piece play.
“Defensively, we were solid but we were a bit disappointed with the try we conceded.
“It was just a lapse in concentration but, with the way the game was going, it was easy to switch off. When you take such a comfortable foothold on the game, your play can become a little loose.”
The reduction in the National League campaign from 30 games to 26 has enabled organisers to give players more breaks over the course of the season.
Whereas Fylde have traditionally played every Saturday from early September until Christmas – completing more than half the season’s fixtures in that 16-week run – there are now two weekends off in autumn.
This weekend’s break may be welcome for Fylde ahead of a second block of five games, which includes matches against Rotherham Titans a week tomorrow, Wharfedale and Sedgley – the clubs who currently make up the top four.
Briers has mixed feelings and added: ”As a player, I used to think it was a really long slog playing every week up to Christmas but as a coach I’m not so sure.
“You can look at it two ways – yes, we have time to freshen up and come out firing for some big games but, at the same time, it’s nice to keep the momentum going.
“We won’t really know until we go to Rotherham for what will be a good test.”