Fylde make three changes in their starting line-up for the trip to Stockton on Tees to play Billingham RUFC (ko 14.15). Rob King, Lewis Quinn and Alex Clayton come into the starting 15 whilst Greg Morgan and Ben Gould join the replacements.
Ironically, ever present 1st teamer Will Greenwood misses the game at Billingham’s Greenwood Road Ground. Brothers Michael and Ben Walton are the lock pairing on their return to their home club.
A notable landmark is the 100th 1st XV appearance of Tom Forster. Tom is a product of the club’s mini-juniors and Colts set-up earning county representation for Lancashire U18s along the way. He went initially on loan to Preston Grasshoppers, then as a full signing, for a three year period (2015-18). He made 35 appearances in National Two (North) and a full season in North Premier in 2017-18. He returned to the Woodlands for the 2018-19 season but suffered a broken jaw early on before fighting his way back into 1st XV contention towards the end of that season.
In 2019-20 he loyally played his part in the 1st XV squad making 17 appearances from the bench. Patience paid off when he finally made his 1st XV starting debut at Tynedale in the first match of the 2021-22 campaign. He took his chance with both hands and made 28 appearances during the season at centre, scoring 8 tries in the process. As former Head Coach Warren Spragg said: ““Tom is an intelligent player with a strong all-round skill set.”
The N2(N) fixtures for this weekend are:
| 09/01/26 | Darlington MP | v | Wharfedale | OFF |
| 10/01/26 | Billingham | v | Fylde | 14:15 |
| Hull Ionians | v | Macclesfield | 14:00 | |
| Otley | v | Tynedale | 14:00 | |
| Preston G | v | Hull | 14:30 | |
| Rossendale | v | Sheffield | 14:15 | |
| Sheffield Tigers | v | Scunthorpe | 14:00 |