Fylde make the 60 miles trip to Grassington (more accurately, Threshfield) to take on Wharfedale on Saturday (ko 14.00). Always the favourite away game of the season, it’s hoped that the normal significant travelling support will also make the journey.
When Fylde visited Threshfield in September 2019, the Wharfedale match programme set the close relationship between the two clubs in affectionate and gracious perspective. “Although we have built close bonds with a number of clubs over the years, no fixture is more eagerly anticipated than the visit of Fylde. The special tang of a Roses rivalry is always in the air when Fylde’s team and travelling support arrive, and in recent years this particular chemistry has produced several classic matches.”
Former Fylde Head Coach Warren Spragg said their clashes with Wharfedale have an edge other rivalries can’t match. “There’s something about Fylde v Wharfedale games that sets them apart and go beyond even the more recognised local derbies against Preston Grasshoppers or Sedgley Park. The Greens are vocal on the touchline, they have passionate supporters and the coaches really care about the club. The players never give up. You might think that you’re clearly ahead but often you’re not.”
It’s been a very uneven season for the Greens, initially very promising with three wins in their first four games against Preston Grasshoppers (home, 57-18), Harrogate (away, 7-24) and Blaydon (away, 7-46). A last minute try by Hull Ionians pinched the points at Threshfied (13-20) and other narrow home defeats followed against Rotherham Titans (23-29) and against Tynedale (22-29).
However, the middle of the season was grim, with a sequence of 9 losses in 10 games, albeit several by very narrow margins.
In January, a decisive home victory over struggling Blaydon (22-3) and a splendid Roses triumph at Rotherham Titans (20-27) was followed up last Saturday by a clear win over Harrogate (21-11). They will go into the Fylde game with renewed confidence.
Although comfortably placed in 8th place in National Two (North), they are 39 points off 2nd placed Fylde.
‘Dale enjoyed a glorious 20 season run in National One, a record which still stands, until their relegation in April 2016. They initially found it rather difficult dropping down to National Two (North), finishing 10th in 2016-7 and 13th just above the relegation zone in 2017-18, 9th in both 2018-19 and 2019-20, and 12th in 2021-22.
The first ever game between the clubs was in the 1995-6 season, just as the game was going professional. Since then, Fylde have won 21 of the matches, Wharfedale 6 and one has been drawn. A number of these games have been extremely tight with just a few points separating them. A couple of exceptions were the first ever game when Fylde triumphed by 54-18 in December 1995 and in September 2000 when a Fylde squad were overrun by a Wharfedale team inspired by England international flyhalf David Pears and were humiliated 72-10 at Threshfield.
In the summer of 2022, ‘Dale announced the appointment of Simon Verbickas as Director of Rugby. As a highly influential former RFU Community Coach and player coach with various clubs in the Northwest, and as a former coach of Caldy and Chester, Verbickas was responsible for the progress and development of these clubs from regional to National Rugby League level status.
‘Dale moved to strengthen their squad in the last few close seasons, with the arrival of powerful prop Matt Beesley, returning from spells away at Northampton and Ealing, and another ‘returner’, fly-half or centre and goal kicker Tom Davidson who had a spell at Preston Grasshoppers.
The Greens’ pack is traditionally strong and the Fylde forwards will have to face difficult challenges in the tight and loose exchanges. There are some familiar faces who may be involved on Saturday including prop Joe Altham, brother of Fylde’s Peter, fellow young prop Sam Dickinson, back five stalwarts George Hedgley, Simon Borrill, Matt Speres, powerful no 8 Josh Burridge and former ‘Hoppers’ star Ryan Carlson. Back in the forward roster has come former Director Rugby and Yorkshire skipper and star, Rob Baldwin. The indefatigable veteran no 8 is rolling back the years with a number of influential displays.
Amongst the backs, fullback Harry Bullough, centre/wing team mates Oliver Cicognini, Josh Prell and Oscar Canny can be constant dangers as they have proved against Fylde in previous seasons. Halfbacks include goal kicking fly-halves Tom Mann and Tom Davidson, and no 9s Sam Gaudie and Henry MacNab. Mann is the leading points scorer with 95 and Gaudie leads the try scorers with 9.
