Cov Pack Overpowers Fylde

Fylde 15 Coventry 36

Two converted tries in injury time by Coventry didn't quite reflect the overall balance of the game but there was no doubting that the visitors deserved their clear win over an error prone Fylde side on a lovely day at the Woodlands in front of a large crowd of over 1,000.

Whilst it was a good take off the pitch for Fylde's Treasurer, the on-pitch return for the Club was less impressive. As the teams warmed up it was obvious that there was a big difference in size between the two packs of forwards. Fylde looked like Lilliputians in comparison. And the 1st half domination by the Coventry eight reflected this assessment.

Whilst the Fylde pack just about held their own in the scrummages, they lost some lineout ball. But it was at the tackle breakdown that Coventry dominated the afternoon. The big and dynamic pair, South African born, Portuguese full international no 8 Jacques Le Roux and former Welsh U'20s, Bedford & Doncaster blindside Sam Pailor made big dents in the Fylde defence with powerful running, and openside flanker George Oliver was all over the rucks like a rash on an impressive debut after a move from Leicester Tigers.

It was a struggle for Fylde to get quick ball and when they did manufacture it neat moves broke down due to poor handling. To be fair to them, they never wavered from their attacking, running tactics but the ball just didn't stick. Cov fullback Cliffie Hodgson nudged his side ahead on 10 minutes with a penalty after sustained pressure inside the Fylde half. Although they struggled to make their advantages of territory and possession tell, Coventry caused major problems with their driving forward play. They didn't bother to play much of a running game all afternoon as they hammered away through their pack.

Referee Tom Davies penalised Fylde time and again for offences at the breakdown. He also found it hard to officiate the scrummages as they all appeared to have to be re-set at least two or three times. Constant back peddling, despite fine defence, is no way to launch sweeping attacks. Olly Viney & Oli Brennand linked neatly and dangerously at times but either they were swallowed up by the blitz Cov defence or the passing and catching was faulty. In the 14th minute a Fylde attack was illegally stopped a few metres from the Coventry try line and winger Will Hurrell was yellow carded for preventing release of the ball. In true Fylde style they then spurned a kickable penalty and went for the try which was effectively defended and then cleared.

However, in the 27th minute a moment of magic by Fylde fly-half Chris Johnson gave his side the lead. After trying to find gaps left and right, scrum-half Ryan De La Harpe fed Johnson 30m out who put in a delightfully measured grubber kick behind the Coventry defence and followed it up with a neat catch and plunge over for a good try. He converted his own try and Fylde had a 7-3 lead.

This lasted a few minutes as Coventry worked their way upfield and, from broken play 40m out from the Fylde line, flanker Pailor broke a number of weak Fylde tackles and sprinted through powerfully for a very good try. Leading National One points scorer Hodgson surprisingly missed a straightforward conversion, one of his few misses all game, but his side were back in the lead at 8-7.

Fylde continued to struggle for sufficient possession but their defence was sound and repelled the Coventry advances. However, just on half-time, from yet another penalty against the home side, Coventry launched a bruising, driving maul and it was massive tight-head prop Ignas Darkintis who forced his way over from short range. This time Hodgson added the extras for a 15-7 interval lead.

If coach Nelson vented his spleen in the changing rooms during the break then it paid dividends as his players put in a much improved 2nd half display. Initially, the established pattern of the 1st half was repeated. Coventry mounted strong attacks inside the Fylde 22m line and in the 51st minute as their pack drove towards the line Chris Johnson was adjudged to have illegally interfered on the ground and it was his turn to be sinbinned. A couple of minutes later Coventry took advantage of the extra man and Hurrell was released into the corner to touch down for the try. Hodgson converted well from the touchline and gave his side a 22-7 lead.

The next ten minutes were Fylde's as they at last put together more convincing handling and offloading. Viney, Brennand and acting skipper Chris Briers were again to the fore as they tried to create space and continuity. They forced their way back inside the Cov half and it was the turn of the other winger, Mark Kohler to illegally stop Fylde's attack a couple of metres from the line and spend time in the bin. It was Fylde's turn to take advantage and from a driving maul near the line scrum-half De La Harpe squeezed over in the corner for the try. With Johnson off the field the Namibian international took over the goal kicking responsibilities and narrowly missed the conversion from wide out. But Fylde had reduced the deficit to 12-22.

At this stage, with Johnson restored and a man advantage, Fylde were on top. The crucial moment of the match was in the 68th minute when a sweeping Fylde attack down the right saw lock Paul Arnold make the break and, with the line beckoning 20m out and acres of space to score, his perfect pass was knocked on by the supporting player. The referee had already signalled for a Fylde penalty so Johnson kicked the three points but it should have been seven. Coventry led by 22-15 and there was still just one score in it.

But that was as good as it got for the home side. Coventry once again worked their way deep into Fylde's right corner and in the 80th minute fly-half Matt Jones forced his way over from close range. Hodgson, who by now was in fine kicking form, added the extras from wide out on the Cov left. Coventry led by 29-15 and the fate of the match was determined.

Deep into injury time Fylde had the ball 5m out from their own line and tried desperately to run the ball from under their posts. Replacement centre Greg Evans read the move and neatly intercepted to just fall over the line for the easiest of tries. Hodgson finished the game with the conversion. Sadly, and to finish off a bad day for the squad, scrum-half Ryan De La Harpe injured his ankle badly in the final minute and had to be helped off the pitch.

This just wasn't Fylde's day and they were definitely the second best side in the contest. They have given their supporters some superb entertainment at the Woodlands during this season and have put away leading clubs Doncaster, Rosslyn Park & Esher with flowing rugby. It was principally a shame for one of the biggest crowds of the season that this success and style couldn't be repeated on a sunny day in almost perfect conditions. But the coaches and players mustn't beat themselves up over such a below par performance. Despite their struggles they were still in the game until the last ten minutes. Coventry climb over Fylde to 3rd spot in the league whilst Fylde drop to 4th.

More fundamental longer term issues were raised by Mark Nelson in a post-match interview. He made the point that Fylde have punched above their resource weight this season in comparison with the division's big hitters including Coventry. He fears that the formula for success in the Championship (level two) – big often predominantly full-time & expensive squads, big packs with huge physicality, the use of dual registered Premiership players and a narrower tactical style of percentage rugby – will replicate itself in National One. “Can we maintain rugby in top half of this division without the resources and will to match the leading clubs if this is the way things are going?”

The further question is whether a traditional club like Fylde, a 'community club' as the RFU calls them, can sustain fielding numerous senior teams each week, with all the management time that this requires, as well as maintaining a high performing 1st team at N1 level. Will this model work in the future? Without a rich benefactor and large corporate sponsorship, how much does the Club want to stay in this division and if it does what will it have to do to achieve this?