Tynedale 22 v Fylde 45: match report by Simon Taylor
Fylde’s latest in a long line of whizz kid wonders, Freddie Reader, returned from a 2-week injury break to bag a brace of tries and help Fylde recover from a slow start, as they outscored Tynedale 7 tries to 4 in an entertaining game in the beautiful settings of Corbridge. Tynedale took a 12-0 lead before Fylde scored 45
points in as many minutes to put the game out of reach of the hosts, who battled to the end and deserved the bonus point their 4th try at the death gave them. By a strange quirk, this was an exact reversal of the away game last season, when Tynedale put Fylde to the sword by the same score.
Fylde’s squad of 20 contained only 7 that had been in this fixture last season, back in February, showing how much player rotation there has been. With Mike Walton and Dave Fairbrother already unavailable, Ben Dorrington was forced to withdraw on the morning of the game, meaning Greg Morgan partnered Matt Garrod in the second row, the versatile Matt Ashcroft came into the back row, and Rob Williamson was named on the bench.
Fylde started well, monopolising early possession, but a loose pass allowed home centre Rhys Beeckmans to make a long break into Fylde’s 22. He was bundled into touch, but Fylde’s line out misfired, they then knocked on and Tynedale’s veteran skipper Chris Wearmouth crashed over, Jake Rodgers converting for a 7-0 lead to the hosts.
A missed kick to touch and then a missed tackle by Fylde gave winger Alex Dryden a free run in wide out and suddenly, with 16 minutes gone, Fylde were 12-0 down and in need of a spark to get them going. Freddie Reader provided that spark, as some phased possession gave him the ball 30 out, his fast feet doing the rest as he danced around a couple of defenders and ran round under the posts. Patrick Bishop converted, and Fylde were on the board at 12-7 down.
Fylde settled into their work and upped their accuracy and tempo, as they began to stress the home defensive structure through repeated phases. Ball on halfway was shipped wide, Sam Stott gave Ben Turner enough space to race down the touchline, and he picked the perfect time to fling a long inside pass to the supporting Alex Gaughan, and he dotted down. Bishop failed to convert but Fylde had levelled up at 12 apiece.
Fylde were now getting into their stride with their attack and the defence had tightened up as well. They broke up a Tynedale move on halfway and skipper Toby Harrison kicked deep. Harrison then took line out ball off the top, the backs ran a decoy in the centres and gave Reader enough space again on the edge to skin his man and grab his second try. Bishop knocked over a lovely conversion this time and for the first time Fylde led, 19-12, a lead they would never relinquish.
Fylde still had time to extend the lead before the half time oranges, as multiple phases and a nice break by Turner saw Harrison pop up the final pass to Bishop who went over wide out. He couldn’t convert his own try, but Fylde went into the break with a bonus point try in the bag and a 24-12 lead.
Tynedale knocked on at the re-start and were then penalised. Fylde set up the 5-yard line-out, but the throw was not straight. Tynedale’s reprieve was short-lived as they were penalised for collapsing the scrum, and Matt Ashcroft’s quick thinking finally ended the comedy of errors as took a quick tap and powered over for Fylde’s 5th try, Bishop’s conversion making in 31-12.
There was no let up for the beleaguered Tynedale as Fylde set up shop again on 52 minutes, leading to the rare sight of Pete Altham powering over for a try that Bishop converted, the score was blowing out as Fylde went 38-12 ahead. This was Altham’s first try in 5 seasons, (he thinks), and true to form for a prop, his 5-yard head down trundle had become a full 30-yard sprint which involved 3 dazzling side steps by the end of the bus journey home.
Tynedale’s spirit and grit has never been in doubt, and despite shipping 38 unanswered points meaning that elusive first win of the season might be out of reach, they knuckled down to the task of showing the home fans they weren’t going to go meekly into the night. Their powerful pack, which included Charlie Richards, a doppelganger for his dad, Dean, began to grind away at the Fylde defence. Matt Garrod relieved one dangerous position near the try line when he pinched Tynedale’s throw in, but Tynedale set up another attempt and this time the catch and drive was executed well, replacement Louis Frankland the try scorer, 38-17 with nearly an hour gone.
Back came Fylde, with Jordan Dorrington, on at half time for Turner, making the break down the wing. Fylde earned another penalty and the quick tap and go ended up in Toby Harrison’s hands and he crashed over, Bishop adding his 5th conversion and Fylde were 45-17 up with 14 minutes left. A break from deep by Reader and Gaughan then saw Dorrington in space on the wing, his inside pass was deemed to have been knocked on deliberately by winger Seamus Hutton and he was yellow carded.
Fylde took Bishop, Corey Bowker, Altham and Tom Davis off with Lucas Atherton, Chris Rudkin, Oli Trippier and Rob Williamson coming on in their place. The bonus point system means teams have that extra incentive as well as pride to keep battling to the end and Tynedale were desperate for some reward for their efforts. They battered away at the Fylde line giving Fylde some valuable goal line defence practice. Multiple phases were repelled with some fierce hits, admirable given the game was already won.
Fylde had also managed nearly a full game without a yellow card, but Matt Garrod decided to put that right in the 78th minute as he took one for the team, at least it was one less than the 2 he received in this fixture last season. Fylde defended well forcing a knock-on, only to concede a penalty at the resulting scrum, and Tynedale set up one last catch and drive line-out with Frankland grabbed his second try, the last points of the game, as Tynedale managed to grab the bonus point they were hunting for.
Fylde deserved their win, playing some attractive attacking rugby, allied with stout defence when required, although they will want to cut out the errors and frailties they showed in the first 20 minutes. The squad performed well, a talented back line possessing threats a plenty, with Reader showing he has the x-factor to finish off the invention of his colleagues. Greg Morgan put a solid shift in getting a welcome full 80, he and Lewis Quinn just getting on with business week in week out. A compliment to the pack is that Walton and Fairbrother could have the week off without it blunting Fylde’s forward efforts as the rest of the heavy artillery shared the workload around in equal measure.
The squad are bonding well, and the Penrith pub goers were ‘treated’ to the sight of Fylde in fancy dress on the trip back. Rugby players, largely in drag, including a 6 foot 6 second row in a bridal dress, monopolising the karaoke, where Pete Altham shaded Alex Clayton in the best performer category, is a sight only strong Cumbrian stomachs can survive.
Coach Chris Briers commented; “This was another excellent away win at a place where we have traditionally found them difficult to come by. We had a shaky start gifting them a couple of soft tries but then settled down to our style of play, improving our defence and getting our attacking patterns going so credit to the lads for that. Between minutes 20 and 65 we were pretty dominant, then showed good determination in defence. It was a shame to concede late on, but we can’t really begrudge Tynedale getting a bonus point for their efforts, they are a tough team. We must be happy with 4 bonus point wins from 4 games in October, especially with 3 being away from home. We continue to build our identity and are all working hard to develop our strengths and work on our improvement areas.”
Fylde remain 4th in National 2 North, with 6 wins and 2 defeats. They now have a well-earned week off, after which they face 7th placed Otley at home at the Woodlands.
Click here for video coverage of Fylde’s seven tries.
Click here for an excellent album of action photographs by John & Barbara Austin.
Fylde: Reader, Turner (Dorrington 40), Stott, Clayton, Smith, Bishop (Atherton 65), Gaughan, Harrison (c), Ashcroft, Quinn, Garrod, Morgan, Altham (Trippier 53), Davis (Williamson 68), Bowker (Rudkin 65).
Tynedale: Beaty, Hutton, Beeckmans, Miller, Dryden, Rodgers, Telford (Turnbull 65), Hughes (White 40), Keller (Hughes 63), Haigh (Frankland 40), Wearmouth (Captain)/Cousin 40), Hanning, Burke (Wearmouth 53), Vassalo, Richards.