Blaydon 12 v Fylde 31: report by Simon Taylor
Fylde’s sixth win on the trot and fourteenth from fifteen starts saw them take over top spot from Sedgley Park, whose game was called off due to the heavy frost. Only three fixtures in the division went ahead, all on 4G pitches. After a very tight first half, when Blaydon belied their second bottom status with a fiercely competitive showing to go into the break level at 12 points apiece, Fylde dug deep and gradually turned the screw to dominate the second stanza and score 3 unanswered tries to secure the bonus point win.
With Pete Altham and Matt Ashcroft injured, Joe Higgins came into the squad to support Zach Barrow and Corey Bowker as the three props. Skipper Ben Gregory, Harlan Corrie, Olli Parkinson, Dave Fairbrother, Henry Higginson, and Toby Harrison made up the pack. Cole Potts made his third start at scrum half, with Greg Smith, Sam Stott, Connor Wilkinson, Ben Turner, Tom Grimes, and Jordan Dorrington completing the back line. Scott Rawlings, Sam Parker, Matt Garrod and Adam Lanigan joined Higgins on the bench.
Fylde started brightly with smart line out ball moved swiftly left in just the fourth minute, from the resulting phases Dave Fairbrother muscled his way over for try. The conversion was missed but Fylde had the early lead at 5-0. It looked like the form book was playing out to script, but Blaydon soon knocked that idea on the head with some spiky and determined running. Injuries have meant a lot of youngsters being blooded and they were keen to show Fylde they could also move the ball wide at pace. A robust carry by winger Jon Ashman carried him through the defence and the supporting centre Zach Thompson, who had a fine game, was on hand to level things up at 5-5 with an unconverted try.
Fylde sought to dominate possession and up the tempo but a misfiring line out and some inaccuracies in the flat pass tactic meant they were struggling to build a solid platform and create pressure. Blaydon for their part were buoyed by their early success and sought to target the Fylde right edge for the rest of the half, with some success. It took till the half hour mark for Fylde to fashion their next incisive moment. The flat pass this time paid dividends as Greg Smith put the strong running Sam Stott through the gap, Stott feeding the supporting Jordan Dorrington who raced in for the try, converted by Smith for a 12-5 lead. A lead that did not last long, as Blaydon once again burst through on their left edge, kicked over the top and forced Dorrington to concede a 5-yard scrum. Several pick and go phases later hooker Charles Smith forced his way over, John Clarkson converted and with no further scoring in the half Fylde made the long jog back across the car park to the changing rooms tied up at 12-12, knowing they were in a real battle.
Joe Higgins and Adam Lanigan replaced Corey Bowker and Ben Turner at the break and Fylde came out with renewed focus instilled in them by head coaches Alex Loney and Chris Briers. They began to monopolise possession, cut out the errors and pin Blaydon deep, building pressure exponentially and stretching the home defence, injecting tempo when the time was right. Blaydon were stubborn and tenacious but the strain of constant defence and difficulty getting out of their own half began to tell. Inevitably, discipline began to suffer, and the penalty count began to increase. On 48 minutes home second row Austin Phillips was yellow carded for persistent team offences. Fylde kicked to touch 5 yards out, Parkinson took the catch and the pack got to work. Ben Gregory broke and went for the line only to be hauled down just short, however quick ball was shipped on to Toby Harrison who managed to offload to Greg Smith on the overlap for the try. The conversion missed, but Fylde were back in front at 17-12.
Scott Rawlings now entered the fray to give Fylde a more direct option in the centres with Dorrington off and Wilkinson moved into the full back berth, Matt Garrod also replaced Harlan Corrie. Fylde continued to peg Blaydon back and remained patient. Another yellow followed in the 55th minute with Blaydon prop Matt Siddle sent for a 10-minute rest after he dived rather recklessly into the tackle area. With the home team temporarily down to 13 men Fylde turned down an easy penalty kick and opted for the scrum, knowing there would be gaps on offer. The ball was moved to Rawlings, and he burst through the tackle as he often does, this time there was no need to offload as he scampered in the 20 yards to the try line. Smith added the extras and there was now more breathing space for Fylde at 24-12.
Blaydon’s yellow card naughty boys re-joined the fray giving them chance to plug the gaps more effectively and they battled tirelessly, but in truth, Fylde controlled the game from thereon in, and should have added to the score line before they finally did. Firstly, Matt Garrod made a fine break only for the pass to Sam Stott to be less than ideal and a certain try went begging. Adam Lanigan then sliced through and created another excellent scoring chance. Believing he was clear he pinned his ears back, but a superb last ditch tap tackle cut him off in his prime and face planted him on the artificial turf. Ex Blaydon man Tom Grimes, in support on the left with and no defenders near him, was left cursing his luck as he was denied a try on his return to his old club, and on his birthday to boot, no gift-wrapped present for Tom from Mr Lanigan.
In the 78th minute Blaydon conceded their third yellow card of the half for a high tackle by Dan Sanderson. Having given their all, Blaydon were understandably close to being out on their feet, and, with the clock running into the red, Fylde struck. Connor Wilkinson received the ball and, with the home defence scrambling and cutting off the supply route to the overlap, Wilkinson took matters into his own hands, jinked and weaved his way along the defensive line until the gap appeared & swooped for Fylde’s fifth try. Smith knocked over the conversion and Fylde had produced a dominant second half performance to subdue a stubborn Blaydon outfit for another impressive away win.
Coach Chris Briers commented: “Today was tough. In the first half we weren’t at our best but fair play to Blaydon they were really testing us with some very decent stuff. At half time we spoke about how we needed to improve the speed of the break down and our support play. We performed a lot better in the second half, and although we squandered a few chances we came away from Blaydon, always a tough place to play, with 5 league points. We’ve also put ourselves top with Sedgley not playing.”
Henry Higginson was named man of the match. Higginson has produced consistently strong performances since breaking into the squad and once again produced key turnover jackal penalties just when they were needed, as well as carrying strongly and showing superb ball retention qualities. The batch of new, young, back row forwards Fylde have been able to call on have added an extra dimension and given Dave Fairbrother a new lease of life, and freedom to roam and create even more havoc than he usually does. All the bench created positive impacts and Fylde are showing their ability to work out what is required on game day according to the opposition, conditions, and style of play they are coming up against. Zach Barrow deserves a mention for putting in a full 80 minutes at prop and having the gas left for a lung busting surge in midfield late in the second half.
With 11 games left there is a long way to go with some tough matches to come, including Otley twice, but this win puts Fylde 2 points ahead of Sedgley Park and means their destiny is in their own hands. Sedge do have a game in hand but are also due to visit The Woodlands. Next up is Rotherham at home next Saturday, where The Titans will be looking to avenge their chastening home loss to Fylde earlier in the season. Fylde will need to be on their game, a vociferous home support would be most welcome.
Click here for video coverage of Fylde’s five tries.
Fylde: Dorrington (Rawlings 47), Turner (Lanigan 40), Wilkinson, Stott, Grimes, Smith, Potts, Bowker (Higgins 40), Gregory (Captain, Parker 76), Barrow, Parkinson, Corrie (Garrod 57), Harrison, Higginson, Fairbrother
Blaydon: Bailey (Douglas), Ashman (Williams), Cooney, Thompson, Obonna, Dowell, Clarkson, Siddle, Smith, Dodds (Rewcastle), Phillips, Barry, Turnbull (Sanderson), Roy (Leggetter), Hall-Lyon