Fylde face perhaps their most difficult task of the season when they travel to Corbridge to take on 3rd placed Tynedale on Saturday (ko 14.00). Tynedale have won seven of their last eight games; Fylde in comparison have lost their last five fixtures. Many pundits believe that Tyne are favourites to edge past Macclesfield and claim the runners up spot in N2(North), qualifying for the new system of play-offs which, if navigated successfully, will see the Club in National One next season.
Fylde and Tynedale have met each other on 31 occasions since 2003-4. The bragging rights are shared, 15 victories each, plus one draw. There are many similarities between the clubs, in particular the place of both in their communities and their role in promoting rugby in their towns and local environments.
Even more importantly over the years has been the commitment of both clubs to open, attacking rugby. Whilst Tynedale’s Station Road ground hasn’t been Fylde’s favourite over the years, the Lancastrians will be bursting a gut to win on Saturday.
One of their lead coaches is Carl Fearns and with his other coaches they has built a loyal squad with a mixture of experienced campaigners and thrusting local young talent. Representing the first category is former England Counties lock Chris Wearmouth who, after a decade at Blaydon, moved to Tynedale Park ahead of the 2018-19 campaign. He has run up well over 300 senior National League appearances in a fine career and still is a regular in the matchday squads. He is often partnered by another able and loyal servant, Graeme Dunn, or Will Nankivell. A more recent newcomer to their pack is former KGS product and backrower Ethan Hall-Lyon who had a season with Fylde in 2023-24 after he had left school. He has been a regular in their backrow this season alongside Dean Richards’ son Charles.
Playmaking and goal kicking responsibilities in recent seasons have been shared between two accomplished young fly-halves, Josh Leslie and Jake Rodgers. This season fullback or centre Cameron Grant has become the principal goal kicker and he is the squads leading points scorer with 160 to date. The other part of the half-back duo is normally no 9 James Telford. Two of their leading try scorers are wing Seamus Hutton and centre Will Miller, alongside experienced hooker Ben Haigh.
Their leading try scorer is the very dangerous Seamus Hutton with 10, closely followed by Miller and another backrower Charlie Turnbull on 8.
Fylde will be missing top points scorer Danny Cassidy following his injury against Scunthorpe and Alex Clayton comes into his centre spot. The only other change in the starting XV is the swapping of positions of Greg Morgan who is named at blindside flanker and Will Greenwood who returns to his usual lock role. There’s a welcome return for Ben Walton and Max Senior amongst the replacements.
Photos below by Chris Farrow from the game between the two clubs in October 2025.
