Fylde Senior Colts vs Sedgley Park Senior Colts: match report by Ben Curran
Venue: Fylde RFC
Date: 17th November 2024
Final Score: Fylde 24 – 7 Sedgley Park
Half-Time Score: Fylde 12 – 0
Fylde U18 Senior Colts delivered a gritty and determined performance in challenging conditions at the Woodlands, overcoming Sedgley Park Senior Colts with a 24-7 victory. Despite the wet and muddy field hampering fluid play, Fylde remained composed in both attack and defence, experimenting and making key plays to secure the win.
Scoring Summary:
• 10 min: Try – Elliott Swann powered over the line after sustained pressure from a pick-and-go off a scrum on the 22m line. Conversion by Corey Morgan (7-0).
• 35 min: Try – Fylde disrupted a Sedgley scrum at the head, with No. 8 Elliott Swann picking and going before offloading to scrum-half Sam Curran, who darted through a gap in Sedgley’s defence to score (12-0).
• 44 min: Sedgley Park responded with a try from a well-placed grubber kick through Fylde’s defensive line. Conversion added (12-7).
• 55 min: Try – From a ruck within Sedgley’s 5-metre line, Toby Curran delivered a perfectly timed miss pass to Ben Wright on the left wing, who finished superbly in the corner (17-7).
• 57 min: Try – Sam Curran capitalized on a loose ball in Fylde’s half, breaking free with a sharp line break and running the length of the pitch for his second try of the game. Conversion by Corey Morgan (24-7).
It was good to see centre Tommy McGuirk make his debut for the Colts, providing energy and a fresh option in midfield. The return of Ted Thompson was also a positive, but unfortunately, his game was cut short in the first half due to a neck injury sustained from a late challenge. We wish him a speedy recovery and hope he is okay.
Match Analysis:
The game was heavily influenced by the muddy and wet conditions, which turned the contest into a physical and territorial battle. Both teams struggled to reclaim their kicks infield, with Fylde recovering one of 12 attempts and Sedgley managing one from nine.
Possession was evenly split at 50% each, but Fylde’s ability to convert key opportunities into points proved decisive. Sam Curran scored two excellent tries, showcasing his sharpness and decision-making at scrum-half, while Elliott Swann’s opening try set the tone for Fylde with a powerful pick-and-go off a scrum. Ben Wright’s finish in the corner highlighted Fylde’s attacking versatility, and Corey Morgan’s consistent kicking added vital points in challenging conditions.
Ethan Brown also made an impressive return at inside centre, coming on at halftime and providing strong defensive and attacking support.
Discipline:
Fylde’s discipline remains an area of concern, with the team conceding 15 penalties compared to Sedgley Park’s 4. Resulting in on player getting a yellow card for repeated offsides at the breakdown added to the team’s tally. The high penalty counts disrupted Fylde’s momentum at times and provided Sedgley with opportunities to stay in the game.
Conclusion:
It was good to see the Colts put last week’s loss behind them and show resilience and skill in tough conditions. While there are areas to improve, particularly discipline and the effectiveness of infield kicking, sharpness and defensive commitment delivered a good result.
Sedgley Park played with great intensity, skill, and sportsmanship throughout the match. They adapted well to the challenging conditions, competing hard and fairly in every phase. They were a pleasure to host, and we wish them a safe journey home. We look forward to the return fixture at their ground on the 12th of January.