Fylde visit the beautiful Tynedale Park in Corbridge on Saturday to take on their old friends and rivals, Tynedale RUFC, in their longest away trip of the season. Leaving the aesthetics on one side, the ground is probably Fylde’s least favourite venue amongst National League North clubs.
Tynedale usually competes strongly in National Two (North) finishing either 6th or 7th in the last three seasons. This campaign is proving tougher and after seven matches, five defeats and two draws, they are yet to post a victory and sit in 13th place in the division. This is likely to be a false position as apart from the two draws they have lost by a few points in two others. These include a fine performance, 32-37, against league leaders Lymm just a couple of weeks ago.
Fixtures between Fylde and Tynedale began in 2003-4 and, in the 14 seasons that both have been in the same division since then, Fylde have lost on 10 occasions at Tynedale Park and won just 4 times. The last two seasons saw the North Easterners victorious by 23-12 in Feb 2023 and 45-22 in a shambolic performance by Fylde in February this year.
Click here for John Austin’s photographs from Tynedale Park last season.
The Woodlands has been no more successful for Tynedale than Tynedale Park for Fylde. The Lancastrians put together a run of 8 successive victories there between 2011 & 2023. Overall, the balance sheet marginally favours the Blues with 14 wins and 13 for Fylde plus one draw.
| Woodlands | Tynedale Pk | Fylde result | |
| 2003-4 | 16-17 | 10-23 | L/W |
| 2004-5 | 24-0 | 24-18 | W/L |
| 2005-6 | 10-46 | 16-8 | L/L |
| 2006-7 | 14-14 | 28-6 | D/L |
| 2007-8 | 7-25 | 22-7 | L/L |
| 2011-12 | 39-28 | 17-22 | W/W |
| 2012-13 | 23-21 | 45-10 | W/L |
| 2013-14 | 38-3 | 26-7 | W/L |
| 2014-15 | 33-26 | 9-8 | W/L |
| 2018-19 | 31-5 | 59-15 | W/L |
| 2019-20 | 50-10 | 27-34 | W/W |
| 2021-22 | 38-26 | 24-48 | W/W |
| 2022-23 | 43-10 | 23-12 | W/L |
| 2023-24 | 28-34 | 45-22 | L/L |
Tynedale is under a new coaching structure this season, with the famous England international Dean Richards joining the 1st XV Coaches along with Premiership and European veteran Carl Fearns. ‘Deano’ left his Director of Rugby position at Newcastle Falcons in May 2022. He has strong ties with Tynedale as his three sons and daughter have all played rugby at the Club.
Looking at the Club from outside, one of the most obvious characteristics is the loyalty and commitment of many of the senior players who have had long spells in their 1st XV squad. ‘Continuity’ is obviously one of the Club’s watch words along with ‘developing’ young talent through its junior ranks.
The ‘long standing’ group is exemplified by players such as lock Graeme Dunn (172 appearances over 9 seasons), no 8 Jonathan Cousin (152 appearances), flanker Ben Bell (128) and centre Will Miller (120). Other experienced personnel include hooker Ralph Johnston, prop Oscar Caudle, wing Seamus Hutton, prop Ben Haigh & flyhalf Josh Leslie. Perhaps the best known of all the Tynedale players is former England Counties skipper and formidable lock forward Chris Wearmouth, at one stage at local rivals Blaydon. He has made 143 appearances and skippered Tyne as well as acting as forward coach.
This season the leading try scorers to date are winger Hutton and hooker Johnstone with six, and winger Will Roberts with five.
Fylde will be checking on the injury position of a few players before selecting their travelling squad on Thursday evening.