Hull 39 v Fylde 36: report by Simon Taylor
Fylde travelled down the familiar highway to Hull once more to take part in a high scoring and highly entertaining try fest. In a game where the lead changed hands several times, they twice came back from a 10-point deficit and outscored the hosts by 6 tries to 5, only to concede a 78th minute try that edged Hull back in front for a final time. Turning down a late penalty shot at goal which would have tied the game and given them an extra point, not really part of their rugby DNA anyway, they boldly chose to go for the try that would have given them all 5 league points. The final attack very nearly succeeded, but a last-ditch tackle forced the knock on, and Fylde had to settle for 2 losing bonus points, which they fully deserved.
A dry and sunny day was welcome, but strong gusty winds did present some testing playing conditions. With the unlucky centre Sam Stott out, Scott Rawlings was asked to start again and paired up with the exciting Freddie Reader in the centres. Matthew Garrod was unavailable meaning the lineout work would fall largely to Oli Parkinson, as Freddie Deeks was asked to reprise his second-row role once again and fill the other berth. Pete Altham and Corey Bowker were asked to front up to the formidable Hull front row options, skipper Ben Gregory as ever a rose between two thorns.
Hull started the stronger, forced the early penalties, and second row Alec Renouf went over in the third minute for the first of those 11 tries. Full back Reece Dean converted and added a penalty in the 15th minute as Hull built their first 10-point lead. Fylde gradually established themselves into the game as they looked to put pace and width on the game and run the heavier Hull artillery around. Playing into the wind Fylde knew any errors would be punished by territory loss, and one promising attacked ended with a knock on, the ball being hoofed 80 yards downfield, with Ben Gould tracking back to ground the ball for a goal line drop out. A cheeky short kick was re-gathered, and Fylde set off on the first of many long-range, multi-phased passages of play with the ball going through many sets of hands, the theme of the day. The result of this one was a yellow card for Hull for cynical play near their line, and shortly after that Scott Rawlings forced his way over from close range, Greg Smith converted, and Fylde were on the board at 10-7 down.
Fylde now had a good spell, their pace and accuracy causing Hull problems. Too many high shots were going on for the ref’s liking, and Fylde benefited from a run of penalties. They forged close to the line, the catch and drive line-out was released at the right time, and scrum-half Ben Gould dummied and sniped over to give Fylde their first lead at 12-10. Another high shot saw Hull’s powerful ex RL centre Bureta Faraimo the second home player to receive a yellow on 27 minutes, although this didn’t hinder them too much immediately. A great combination tackle from Deeks, Sam Parker and Tane Bentley forced a knock on from the huge Hull number 8 Paulos Latu, but his front row mates helped him out by forcing a penalty at the resulting scrum and Dean was able to nudge Hull back further ahead at 13-12.
Into a strong wind Fylde may have been happy enough with that at the break but went one better as they struck again right on the half-time hooter. Oli Parkinson put in some tremendous jackal work at the breakdown to earn a pressure relieving penalty and Fylde moved up field to be awarded a scrum on halfway. The scrum was more solid, and a set move was run in the backs, Jordan Dorrington creating havoc and putting Adam Lanigan in space. Lanigan did a bit of juggling but did well to re-gather and offload inside at just the right time, with Ben Turner the support player to dot down for a fine try. The wind was so strong that the attempted conversion from Smith went just wide, then seemed to blow back through the posts from the other side, sadly not a party trick that gets you any points, but Fylde had produced some great stuff into the elements and looked in a strong position as they turned round 17-13 up.
If Fylde thought they had done all the hard work, Hull made them think again with a strong start to the second stanza. Replacement number 9 for the home team, James Naylor, was a real nippy livewire, and he gave Hull more zip and zest to their play. Hull showed they could up the tempo themselves, and on 43 minutes the lead swapped hands once again. Strong running in the centres attracted the edge defence in, leaving a space for their winger to make a long-range break and feed inside to Reece Dean who raced in and improved his own try, 20-17 to Hull. Having found a formula they liked Hull moved the ball again on 49 minutes, chipped through in the centres, kicked ahead once more, and the aforementioned will of the wisp Naylor swooped through to gather and score under the posts. Dean converted again and suddenly Hull had re-established a 10-point lead at 27-17.
The see-saw stuff did not let up, as Fylde again imposed themselves. 2 minutes later a good steal by Corey Bowker gave then some good ball, and they kept it long enough to stretch and stress the home defence. It seemed Hull had closed Gould down as he looked to release the scoring pass, but he did well to bounce out of the challenge, cut out the middleman and go over himself, for his second try. Smith judged the wind well and converted, and the Hull lead was cut to 3 points at 27-24. The ding-dong nature of the game continued, as Fylde failed to gather the re-start in the wind, Hull did, and set up camp to send Faraimo over on 53 minutes, Dean converting, and guess what, Hull were 10 points ahead again at 34-24. Not for long though, of course, this time there was a lengthy break in the scoring of a whole 4 minutes, as Greg Smith’s neat little chip though saw Sam Parker do well to gather and take the tacklers over, Smith converted, and it was 34-31 to Hull.
The tit-for-tat sequence of scoring was finally broken as Fylde once more re-took the lead on 64 minutes. After several phases they went blind and quick hands between Gould, Bentley and Dorrington created just enough space to put Ben Turner clear, with the covering defence about to belt him into touch Turner fed the ball back inside and Bentley was there to finish off a fine move. Smith could not make a difficult conversion, but Fylde were back in front, albeit narrowly, at 36-34.
With the game entering the last 20, the end-to-end play tightened up as defences improved, both teams realising the next score may well be the deciding one. Rawlings had yet again put a mighty shift in, and he made way for Tom Forster. Rob Williamson got some game time in as Deeks took a well-deserved rest and in the last knockings Robbie Kincart, Alex Brooks and Alex Clayton all came on for Altham, Bowker and Lanigan. It was fierce stuff with both teams defending well when the other prodded and probed. Hull kicked a penalty deep, and despite misfiring their line-out, crucially they gained another scrum penalty at the next phase. With another penalty advantage being played they battered away at the Fylde line until the dam broke, Hudson-Kowalewicz the man to profit. The conversion was missed but Hull had got their noses in front again at 39-36 with only 2 minutes left.
Fylde gathered themselves for one last effort and another excellent turnover penalty from Parkinson saw Fylde run the penalty and stretch Hull. Another penalty was kickable but, perhaps understandably, given a draw would only give Fylde an extra league point, the on-field decision was tap and go for broke. The dancing feet of Freddie Reader saw him get through some heavy traffic when there didn’t seem to be any room, but the last defender made a last-ditch tackle to haul him down, doing enough to dislodge the ball. The knock on brought the final whistle, Hull with the full 5 points, Fylde with 2.
Whilst it was disappointing to lose, this was a much improved away showing than the previous thumping at Otley. The game could have gone either way and nobody could have complained had the result gone the other way. Fine margins only, with two good teams keen to play, putting on a great show. Fylde can be proud of their efforts, from 1 to 20, Tane Bentley deservedly named man of the match, Freddie Reader continues to show what an exciting prospect he is, and Fylde fronted up well against some formidable units in the home pack and backline. Fylde will look to lay in the same fashion against league leaders Leeds next Saturday at home, a win could deny the opposition promotion and finish Fylde’s home campaign in style, it is a game not to be missed.
Joint Head Coach Alex Loney said: “Overall, we’re disappointed not to come away with the win – it was definitely one that got away. Hull are a good side with ball carrying threats and they scored some good tries in the 2nd half through their backs.
“Fylde had plenty of opportunities to win the game. There were times when we could have managed field positions and momentum a little better. Also some of our errors and penalties that gave Hull opportunities could have been avoided.
“It was a bit of weird feeling after the game in knowing that we haven’t been at our very best but a long way from underperforming. We could have been a bit sharper and come away with a victory. There was a key moment in the last few minutes when we had a chance to kick a penalty to level the scores but we went for the corner and a final push for a try. On field decisions by the players fuelled by ambition will always get the backing of Chris and I.
“We go forward to welcome table topping Leeds Tykes to the Woodlands on Saturday. This is a big game to end our home season and we’ll be preparing well for this during the week.”
Click here for a clip of Ben Gould scoring his first try.
Fylde:
Dorrington, Turner, Reader, Rawlings, Lanigan (Clayton 75), Smith, Gould, Bowker (Brooks 75), Gregory (Captain), Altham (Kincart 69), Deeks (Williamson 56), Parkinson, Parker, Harrison, Bentley
Hull:
Dean, Trueman (Rawlins), Heard, Faraimo, Hudson-Kowalewicz (Naylor K), Astley, Harding (Naylor J), Major (Beech), Jobling, Bairstow, Addy, Renouf, Uriburu (McDougall), Hall, Latu
