Fylde Vandals vs Fleetwood (7th September 2024): match report by Bazzle Tucker
After a busy summer of touch rugby sessions and recruitment, the Vandals management saw the fruits of their labour. Over 30 players were available to welcome neighbours, and local rivals, Fleetwood to Fortress Woodlands for the first league game of the season. A great problem to have, except when it comes down to selection.
Fleetwood were not so lucky in this respect which meant a number of the Vandals players that weren’t selected were given the opportunity to play for Fleetwood. Eager to earn their shirt and play a game of rugby, Cross, Assad, Green, Davies And Phelps were only too happy to volunteer.
Recruitment over the summer has been successful in not only players but also spectators, with a good number of people down to watch the game and support, which was greatly appreciated!
Fleetwood won the toss and chose the clubhouse half of the pitch. Fylde decided to kick and hopefully start the season off with a big hit. Stevie Durrant was only too happy to oblige clattering the Fleetwood receiver with a textbook low tackle much to the delight of the onlooking crowd.
A couple of phases later and Fleetwood ran the ball out into touch. The resulting line-out saw for the first time changed lineout calls for the Vandals which is unheard of in the last 20 years. In similar unheard of fashion Fylde played the line out off the top to scrum half Pat Parr who quickly shipped the ball wide where the space was exploited by Luke Clitheroe who went over in the corner. The conversion was unsuccessful, but Fylde lead 5 – 0.
The restart was caught by Rob Webster and it didn’t take long for Fylde to get into the Fleetwood half again, only for Fleetwood to give away a penalty for offside. The penalty was kicked to touch. A more recognisable Vandals play followed, with the lineout being driven from the Fleetwood 22 all the way to the 5m line where the driving maul was brought down by a Fleetwood player for a penalty. This also resulted in Tom Nye breaking a finger nail and had to be replaced by Richard “Tree” Appleyard.
With the Fylde pack dominating, the Fylde skipper elected to take a scrum. The Fylde No. 8 picked and offloaded to Pat Parr, who went over in the corner. The extras were missed. 10 – 0 Fylde.
The restart saw some good phases put together by Fylde with Durrant, McCutcheon and Fox all carrying hard to take Fylde into the Fleetwood 22 before being knocked on and Fleetwood being awarded a scrum. Fylde dominated the scrum and won it against the head, with skipper Jamie Griffin picking from the base and going over in the corner. Craig Davies got the conversion to make it 17 – 0 to Fylde.
The restart was returned through some great backs play which saw Luke Clitheroe score probably the best try of the game to get his second. The conversion was missed. 22 – 0.
The game restarted quickly and Rob Webster picked up a loose ball on the half way and went past multiple Fleetwood defenders to go in under the posts, only for his grounding to be deemed a knock-on. This turned out not to be an issue though as the Fylde pack won the scrum and the Fylde No.8 bulldozed through multiple Fleetwood defenders to score his second. Craig Davies got the conversion to bring the score to 29 – 0.
The domination by Fylde continued, with yards being made into the Fleetwood half from the restart through winger George Wilson and Fylde locks Martin and Bailey. Once again a Fylde knock on saw another Fleetwood scrum stolen by Fylde and the resulting pick seeing Griffin score his 3rd. 34 – 0.
Fylde scored another barrage of tries in quick succession though Griffin and Martin x 2. Craig Davies got 2 conversions bringing the score to 50 – 0 at half time.
Both teams made some substitutions at half time, but it had little effect in stopping Fylde running riot. James Shepherd collected the kick off running it strongly back into the Fleetwood half. A slick backs move saw Stephan Kuhn cut through the Fleetwood defence and go over in the left corner, quickly followed by Steve O’Donnell in the right corner. One conversion of the two tries saw the score at 63 – 0.
Some good link up play between Parr, Davies, Kuhn and Brooke-Bissett gave Stephan get his second score of the day. Nick Halford narrowly missed the conversion.
Pat Parr was next to score for Fylde and was converted by Nick Halford. A Craig Davies score brought the score to 80 – 0, but Fleetwood’s despair was not over yet.
The best Fleetwood play of the game saw a great run by Fylde Loanee Ben Cross narrowly denied by a try saving tackle from Nick Halford on the 5m line. Unfortunately Halford’s eye was split open and he had to retire. This proved to be as close as Fleetwood would come to scoring all day. Craig Davies scored his second with Kuhn converting.
The final try of the game saw Steve O’Donnell get his second. The game ended with Fylde winning 92 – 0. Credit has to be given to the Fleetwood lads who never stopped all game despite the score. The Fylde lads that stepped up for Fleetwood did a great job and will give the Vandals management further selection headaches next week where the Vandals welcome Vale of Lune 3s to Fortress Woodlands.
This years Team Sponsors are florists Rose & Bloom, log supplier T Nye Logs New, Recruitment Consultants Simpson Judge Ltd – Specialist Recruitment and Coronet Hire Service. Be sure to check them out and show your support.
Man of the Match: Stevie Durrant
DoD: Rob Webster
Try scorers:
Griffin x 4
Davies x 2
Kuhn x 2
Clitheroe x 2
Martin x 2
O’Donnell x 2
Parr x 2
Conversions:
Davies x 4
Halford x 1
Kuhn x 1
