Fylde are looking forward to welcoming Sheffield RUFC to the Woodlands on Saturday (ko 15.00) in what should be a fascinating and exciting encounter between the 3rd and 5th placed clubs in National Two (North). With the England v Ireland 6 Nations game (ko 16.45) to follow on screens in the Clubhouse, it’s hoped that there will be another big crowd to enjoy top quality rugby.
Sheffield return to the Memorial Ground for only the second time in 30 years. There were regular fixtures between the clubs from the 1974-75 season up until 1995, most often at level three in the RFU league system, then called National League Three. Fylde’s return to Sheffield’s well established multi-sport base in Abbeydale Park in November 2022, 29 years later, restored the friendly rivalry.
Recent seasons have seen Sheffield competing in Northern regional leagues, most frequently at level five, in the North and Midlands Premier Divisions. Their promotion from Midlands Premier after finishing in 2nd place in 2021-22 via a play-off brought the clubs facing each other once again last season in Nat Two (North).
The 2022-23 season was rather a struggle for Sheffield but they finished comfortably in 10th place in N2(N) well clear of any relegation fears and just one place behind local city rivals Sheffield Tigers. Both are located in the beautiful south west of the city, a few miles apart.
This season has seen a great improvement and their 3rd place in the Division is thoroughly merited given their 14 wins, 1 draw and 5 defeats, 13 league points more than 5th placed Fylde. They will go into Saturday’s game as clear favourites over the Lancastrians as they are one of the form teams in the Division. 10 successive victories brought them right up the league table before losing at Rotherham in mid-February. They have beaten all the teams in N2(N) bar losses to Leeds, Billingham, Wharfedale and twice to Rotherham.
Matches between Fylde and Sheffield began in 1974 and there were 17 in all up to 1995. Together with the match at Abbeydale Park in November 2023, Fylde shade the bragging rights by 12-8. Two Fylde players moved to Sheffield in the 1980s/90s, flanker Rob Parr (who describes with great affection his long spell at Abbeydale Park elsewhere in tomorrow’s match programme) and team mate, scrum-half Ian Wright, sadly no longer with us.
Sheffield’s Head Coach since late 2021 is the very experienced former fly-half Anthony Posa whose son has succeeded him as number 10 in the current squad. New Zealand-born Posa, with a Croatian family background, has been a mainstay of the Croatian National squad and earned more than 50 international caps. He is also director of rugby at the University of Sheffield, previously set up the Doncaster Knights Academy and earned four promotions in four years while in charge of Beverley.
Their most high profile signing ahead of the 2022-23 season was the accomplished and powerful backrower, Ryan Burrows, who has very senior experience at Rotherham Titans, Leeds Tykes, Newcastle Falcons (including Premiership appearances) and Coventry. Durable and indefatigable no 8 who has hardly missed a game in two seasons is week in, week out, one of the leading forwards in N2(North). He’s having a storming current campaign notching 15 tries to date.
Fylde match reporter Simon Taylor has highlighted his outstanding performance against Fylde in the last two seasons including in November when: “Sheffield’s man of the match Ryan Burrows scattered the away defence as he ran in from 20 yards out.”
Top points scorer is scrum-half Elliot Fisher who is also having a tremendous season, notching 17 tries to date and, with kicking duties too, a total of 213 points in all putting him 2nd in the N2(N) ranking. He’s partnered at scrum-half with either Callum Posa or Jonathan West. Other mainstays of the squad include lock and Forwards Coach Dominic Parsons, formerly with Championship experience at Doncaster Knights, and props include Jake Hicklin and Ben Whitney, and Archie Crapper and Matt Adcock in the backrow.
Amongst the Sheffield three quarters, wing Christian Hooper has had another very productive campaign with 14 tries to date. Powerful centre Will Smith has been partnered on numerous occasions this season by Kaj Douglas.
