Fylde make their first ever trip to Greenwood Road to face Billingham RUFC on Saturday (ko 14.15), one of their longer journeys (135 miles) in National Two (North). The first meeting of the two clubs was in September at the Woodlands and the home side edged home by 32-26. We are particularly glad to make the trip in Billingham’s centenary year, four years later than Fylde – congratulations to everyone associated with the Club!
Fylde will be looking for their sixth victory in their last seven matches through November, December and into 2024.
Billingham is situated north of the River Tees in the Borough of Stockton-on-Tees. Gaining promotion from the North East Regional Premiership to the National Leagues marks the Club’s highest level achievement in their long history. In 2022-23 they led the division for a long period and shaded nearest competitor, the Yorkshire club Heath RFC, by 12 points with a record of 19 wins and 3 defeats at the end of the season, with 812 points scored and just 292 conceded.
One important factor on Saturday is that the Greenwood Road pitch has a 4G surface, one of the RFU-funded all weather pitches located around England. This will be the 2nd occasion that Fylde have played on such a pitch so far this season. First was at Lightfoot Green and hot on the heels of Billingham is the trip to Lymm’s 4G pitch on 27th January.
Billingham RUFC was formed in 1924 as the rugby section of the Synthonia Sports Club at Synthetic Ammonia and Nitrates Company, which later became Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI). Once established, the club became a force in Durham County Rugby Union, especially after the Second World War and the first team was very strong during the 1950s and early 1960s.
The early 1970s saw a downturn in the chemical industry and with the decline of ICI, the rugby club suffered. In the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s the club became somewhat nomadic in its socialising, although still playing on Central Avenue.
1989 was an important year in the life of the club. The youth section was founded and boys and girls from the age of eight upwards playing mini-rugby. Since then, this section of the club has gone from strength to strength and has provided several current members of the first XV squad.
The 1990s saw an upturn in the club’s fortunes and three teams were regularly playing each week with socialising based at the Synthonia Cricket Club. The club moved to play on Greenwood Road in 1996 although until late 2000 there were no facilities whatsoever, just three pitches. For these years they had a three-site existence, changing, playing and socialising in different locations.
However, December 2000 and a £750,000 lottery grant brought the opening of the new clubhouse giving the club a solid base and identity and that has served as a stepping-stone to current success and advancement. This is an ambitious club with very strong roots in the local community accompanied by careful financial and sporting management. Their vibrancy is reflected in a buoyant playing membership, from the U6s to Colts, 4 senior teams, 3 girls teams – 19 teams in all!
Adjusting to life in the National Leagues has been a mixed experience. Four wins in the first six weeks was a great start and elevated the Club to 4th place in N2(N). Their opening home game against North East rivals Tynedale was particularly notable as it coincided with the opening of their extended and refurbished clubhouse and a 75th minute penalty to win by 20-17 was acclaimed by the enthusiastic crowd. Subsequent home wins against Sheffield (16-14) and Hull Ionians (24-17) and a splendid win at Otley (10-12) marked out the squad as fiercely determined, especially in tight games. The defeat at the Woodlands exemplified this. Although the Lancastrians won and at one time were 32-5 up in the 75th minute, Billingham came back to score three late tries and earn two bonus points, tenacious indeed!
By the middle of October their form has wavered and life has been tougher to date as they’ve suffered six defeats in their last seven matches, plus a home draw against Lymm. Their overall record is P13, W4, D1, L8, PF 252, PA 357, BP4, pts 22.
Playmaking flyhalf and goal kicker Peter Evans is also the clubs Head Coach. He’s also a long term Billingham servant, a characteristic he shares with a few other team mates. For instance, backrower Dan Burns made his 250th appearance and centre Luke Wilson his 200th 1st XV appearance early this season.
Winger Joe Ross is the leading try scorer with 7 to date. Amongst the other backs, there’s a former Fylde player, Jobe Roxby, influential centre Peter Youll, fullback Elliot Husband and wing Jonathan Horner. Mainstays in the pack include props Joe Spoors and Kieran Clark, lock Ben Walton and no 8 Anthony Jackson.
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Fylde make three changes in their starting line-up for their first ever visit to Billingham RUFC’s Greenwood Road ground. Amongst the backline, Tom Carleton returns at fullback with Jordan Dorrington switching to centre. In the pack, Alex Brooks is at loosehead prop and Tom Burrow is at lock. Olli Parkinson moves to blindside flanker covering for the injured Ethan Hall-Lyon.
A very experienced replacements bench will give excellent cover and options for the coaches.
