Billingham 25 v Fylde 38: report by Simon Taylor
Fylde made their first ever trip to these far reaches of the North East, and returned from Billingham with a fifth straight 5 point win, outscoring the hosts 6 tries to 3 in an entertaining games. On a chilly but dry day, with little wind, and a 4G pitch providing a true surface, both teams threw the ball around, sometimes with flair and aplomb, on occasions less so. Periods of superb play were interspersed with a few scrappy stop start interludes, meaning it was a case of who could stay accurate for long enough and in the right areas of the pitch would come out on top. That proved to be Fylde, as they strengthened their hold on fourth spot in National Two (North), leaving new boys Billingham with nothing to show for their game efforts, looking nervously over their shoulders, third from bottom.
With Ethan Hall-Lyon injured the previous week and Dave Fairbrother not yet ready to return Fylde were fortunate to welcome Tom Burrow back in the second row, meaning they could move Oli Parkinson from second row to blind side. Tom Carleton also returned meaning last week’s man of the match Jordan Dorrington was able to show his versatility once again by moving into the centres. Dorrington was man of the match for the second week, his two tries and all action display being a large part of Fylde’s latest success.
Fylde under 12s were on tour and formed a noisy guard of honour as Fylde took to the stage. Toby Harrison fielded the first kick off and Fylde set about stretching the home team, keeping possession for multiple phases, and setting a challenging tempo. This paid immediate dividends as space was created wide out right, Tom Carleton fed his brother Sam, and he jinked inside the last man to touch down. Greg Smith slotted the conversion and Fylde were ahead 7-0 after only 2 minutes. Fylde were awarded the first penalty of the game at the re-start, cleared to touch 30 out, only to lose their own throw in at the first line out, an intermittent Achilles heel of theirs. This allowed Billingham to gain their first meaningful possession of the day, and they used it well, showing they could work the phases and stress a defence too. After 5 phases a deft kick to the left wing found second row Michael Whinn lurking in the wide channel. He gathered, dealt with the defender, and offloaded to Jonathan Horner who touched down. Full back Ryan Foreman missed the conversion but slotted a penalty soon after and the hosts had nicked the lead at 8-7.
Straight from the re-start, Matt Garrod tapped the ball back, Tom Burrow gathered and a strong carry by Tye Raymont, the first of many, got Billingham on the back foot. Scrum half Ben Gould created quick ball and skipper Ben Gregory’s neat offload and Toby Harrison’s line of running put the latter through a gap, Harrison cantering in from 20 yards out. Smith hit the post with the conversion, but Fylde were back in front at 12-8, 20 points on the board in a breathless first 12 minutes. Foreman knocked another penalty over 3 minutes later to make it 12 -11 before Fylde stretched the defence one way and another yet again, this time the other Carleton, Tom, scoring wide out on the left. A lovely conversion by Smith made it 19-11 after 22 minutes.
The pace of the game could not last, and it was a nasty injury that affected it, with Billingham hooker Jordan Foulds dislocating his knee in the 27th minute. We wish him a speedy recovery. The lengthy stoppage seemed to disrupt the flow of both teams, and consequently the rest of half remained scoreless, although Fylde did have their chances to stretch their lead in the latter stages of the first stanza. Pressure in the Billingham 22 created several chances, but Tane Bentley was held up over the line and a knock on saw another chance missed.
Half time saw Corey Bowker and Matt Ashcroft on for Alex Brooks and Tane Bentley, with Tom Forster on shortly after to replace Sam Carleton. Fylde had clearly been re-focused by coaches Alex Loney and Chris Briers as they started strongly again. On 43 minutes Tom Carleton sniffed out the half gap and surged towards the line, a desperate tackle hauled him down but the much taller Tom, young Mr Burrow, called for the pop pass off the deck and surged over for Fylde’s bonus point try. Smith hit the post for a second time, but Fylde were now 24-11 in front, a lead they extended further on 50 minutes.
Billingham were perhaps guilty of overusing the big wide passes in the backs, fine against a team lacking in pace or defence out wide, but dangerous against a speedy back line in good defensive shape. Another big miss pass was swooped upon by Jordan Dorrington, who intercepted and galloped fully 70 yards under the posts. Smith knocked the easy conversion over, and Fylde were suddenly looking more comfortable at 31-11. So comfortable in fact, that the coaches rang some changes, Pete Altham on for Tye Raymont, and Alex Brooks back on as skipper Ben Gregory was given a very rare rest.
Once again, for a while, Fylde lost their shape just long enough to give Billingham a way back in. A high tempo game is great to watch but it can sometimes be hard to get the tempo back if it drops off for too long. This was the first home game of Billingham’s centenary year and they are enjoying playing at this level, with their pride and stubbornness coming to the fore. Fylde started to get on the wrong side of the referee, a series of penalties followed, and Oli Parkinson was the one who suffered, as he was judged to have held on too long in the tackle, and yellow carded. Just 30 seconds later Billingham’s Sam Heron crashed over, Foreman converted, and at 31-18 Fylde’s lead was done to 13, and they were a man down as well.
Billingham had nearly snatched an unlikely win at The Woodlands in September, fighting back from 32-7 down to 32-26, and Fylde did not want any déjà vu. They tried a long-range penalty on 72 minutes to get the 3 score lead back but Smith’s kick fell just short. On came the big man Scott Rawlings to settle things down and a couple of strong carries by him later Fylde were knocking on the door again. Smith varied the tactics with a little chip over the top and Jordan Dorrington was the hungriest and keenest in the chase, just dotting down before the ball went dead. Smith converted and Fylde were safe at 38-18. Billingham weren’t done though, as they marched straight back up field and forced yet more penalties, prop Kieran Clark barging over to give the home team the last score of the day, Foreman converted, and the day was done as Fylde ran out 38-25 winners.
This was a fine away win and, after a difficult start to the season, Fylde have managed to get some much missed players back, acquire some very good dual registered youngsters and start to play some consistently good rugby. The scrum is much stronger nowadays, and they are capable of tying in defenders with strong forward play without having to release their dangerous backs too early. Tye Raymont and Tom Burrow’s work rate was tireless, and their experience at this level at such a young age will stand them in good stead for when they inevitably go on to play first XV games at the higher levels. The whole squad on Saturday performed admirably and should be proud of their efforts.
Coach Alex Loney said: “Playing against a team like Billingham, with a style similar to ours, who are more than willing to take on the challenge of attacking with width and ambition, is always an exciting prospect. The match yesterday certainly offered up fine examples of both teams’ playing styles. Our first try of the match was excellent, displaying the hard work that we have been putting in over a number of weeks. Overall, we are thrilled to get another 5 league points away from home, although we conceded more points than we were intending it was pleasing to control the match for large periods. We feel in a good place for future challenges in the coming weeks, with a tough prospect in Wharfdale at home next Saturday. A final shout out to the hospitality at Billingham. It was brilliant to see so many young players from both clubs adding atmosphere to the occasion and hope Fylde U12s had a fantastic weekend on tour in the Northeast.”
Teams:
Fylde: T. Carleton, S. Carleton (Forster 44), Dorrington, Stott (Rawlings 74), Lanigan, Smith, Gould, Brooks (Bowker 40), Gregory (Captain/Brooks 58), Raymont (Altham 54), Garrod, Burrow, Parkinson, Harrison, Bentley (Ashcroft 40).
Billingham: Foreman, Groark, Youll (Armstrong 25), Evans J., Horner, Evans P., Foley (Heron 52), Dixon (Spoors 46), Foulds (Graham 27), Clark (Dixon 65), Walton, Whinn (Campbell 52, Clark 77), Burns, Myers, Walton (Whinn 70).