Fylde 25 - Doncaster Knights 17

Fylde recorded a fine victory over prospective champions Doncaster Knights in front of a noisy and excited crowd of over a thousand supporters at the Woodlands. Their 1st half performance was quite exceptional and blew the Knights away. A 22-3 half-time lead didn't flatter the Lancastrians one jot and the visitors had no answer to the intelligent, attacking play of their hosts.

The Knights brought a large band of supporters who would have hoped to see their team's run of four successive wins and a slowly growing lead at the top of National One extended. It didn't work out that way and Fylde's display not only delighted the home supporters but lifted them to 3rd in the division.

Whilst the strength of Fylde's backline is well known, and underlined by the selection of two of them in England Counties's line-up in France at the end of January, it was the form and heart of their pack yesterday which provided the foundation for the win. They fronted up against the full-time Knights professionals, including a smattering of very good overseas players, and didn't take a step backwards. The emergence of fine young home forwards such as Tom Burtonwood, Ben Vernon, Joe Robinson & Danny Maher gives great hope for the future whilst the steely experience of Dan Birchall, Adam Lewis, Sam Beaumont, Steve McGinnis, Mark Rylance, Simon Griffiths and, last but not least, Paul Arnoldadds up to a formidable presence. Even missing injured 1st choice players such as skipper Evan Stewart & Gareth Gore didn't undermine their display of grit and skill.

Fylde struck first in the 5th minute and maintained control right up to the last ten minutes of the game. They earned one of a number of penalties and a quick 'tap & go' by scrum-halfRyan De La Harpe led to a couple of phases of forward drives before flanker Steve McGinnis marked his return to the line-up by muscularly forcing his way over the line for the try. Chris Johnson's conversion from the touchline was superb and the home side had a 7-0 advantage. McGinnis was to have a major influence on the game and certainly wasn't in the shadow of Knight's star openside, Michael Hills, who has substantial Premiership experience at London Welsh & Sale Sharks. Most home supporters just wish that his school duties allowed this hard Ulsterman to feature more often.

Another penalty was conceded by the Knights in their own half in the 10th minute and Johnson kicked a straightforward goal to extend the lead. This was negated in the 22nd minute when Fylde offended and the Knight's Dougie Flockhart converted the penalty for 10-3. Minutes before the Knights lost their flanker Louis Spencer with a painful back injury and he was replaced by Jack Bergmanus, mainly used a frontrow replacement.

This was but a temporary setback for Fylde as they warmed to the task and attacked from all over the field. The second quarter of the game was to prove decisive. First Chris Johnson had a fine chance to extend the lead in an attack down the left but lost control of the ball at the critical moment. Then, Paul Arnold charged down Knights scrum-half Bruno Bravo's box kick and also with the line at his mercy was unable to pick up the ball cleanly. The tiny but especially quick Argentinian & the rather larger Fylde lock were to have some lively exchanges with and without the ball during the game.

In the 28th minute Fylde earned a line-out 20m out from the Knights line. As the visitors expected the usual throw to the middle or back of the line and the subsequent driving maul, the ever alert Tom Burtonwood threw short and received the ball back immediately. He sprinted into the right  corner and drove over for a very clever try. Another superb touchline conversion from Johnson added the extras for a 17-3 lead.

In the 32nd minute the Knights no 8 Adam Kettle was the first of four players to receive cards from the referee, this one a yellow for a technical offence. His side didn't appear to suffer from being a man short and put together one of their few dangerous attacks of the 1st half down their left. With National One's top try scorer Tyson Lewis hovering 25m out from the home line, a pass was thrown and beautifully anticipated by Fylde right winger Warren Spragg who sprinted off in the clear for a 75m try. This time Chris Johnson's conversion attempt drifted wide but Fylde had a 22-3 advantage.

Kettle returned minutes later but was soon involved in a fracas off the ball and received a straight red card for foul play from referee Tom Foley following consultation with the assistant referee. He took out his frustration on a plastic chair with audible obscenities to anyone within earshot, just about everyone in the stand! Fortunately, the half-time whistle was quickly blown and there was time for tempers to be calmed.

The initial period in the 2nd half play was concentrated in midfield. Fylde's defence was unwavering and repelled a series of Knights attacks. In attack, the home side continued to try various moves including one from their own 22m line which stretched across the field before lovely interplay and quick hands between winger Oli Brennand and fullback Olly Vineyset free Chris Johnson 35m out from the Knights line and a direct route in front of him for the bonus point try. He outran most of the defenders on a diagonal run towards the posts but was caught by very rapid Tyson Lewis who put in a high tackle a metre from the line. Spectators wondered if the referee had bottled the decision by awarding just a penalty rather than a penalty try.

Rather than taking the easiest of penalty kicks, Fylde took tap penalties and tried to force their 4th try. But the Knights defence was up to the challenge and turned over possession and cleared down field.

In the 50th minute with the Knights 25m out from the Fylde line, another flare up resulted in Paul Arnold receiving a yellow card and the teams were level at 14 men each. With the home pack weakened, the Knights upped their effort and forced a couple more penalties before Mr Foley's patience ran out and awarded a penalty try. Flockhart added the extras and his side had a glimpse of a comeback at just 10-22 down.

But back came Fylde and reasserted a measure of control. In the 58th minute they attacked down the centre of the Knights half and forced a penalty in front of the posts & 35m out. Johnson converted for a 25-10 lead, more than two scores ahead.

In the 70th minute Fylde had a scrummage on halfway & 10m in from the right touchline. De La Harpe fed Olly Viney at first receiver and the silky runner stepped inside Knights defenders and sprinted diagonally to the posts. Rather like Chris Johnson's effort earlier, Viney was caught by the desperate defenders and the ball was knocked on. Viney shows that a back doesn't have to be built like a brick lavatory if he has class, intelligence and natural ability.

From the resultant scrummage, the Knights scrum-half Bravo raced clear in a spectacular 60m sprint. He was caught and winger Flockhart scragged into touch by Brennand.

Another Viney clean break down field turned territorial advantage back to Fylde but another knock on again led to the Knights clearing the danger. A penetrating break by the Knights most dangerous back, centre Mat Clark, took the visitors to within 25m of the Fylde line. A series of messy scrummages in injury time led to another fracas and this time it was the Knights hooker Santamaria & Fylde replacement prop Simon Griffiths who were yellow carded.

In the final minute Mat Clark started and finished a sweeping attack with a fine try. Flockhart converted it and the final whistle sounded. 25-17 was a flattering score for the Knights and they certainly didn't deserve a losing bonus point.

Fylde had beaten the team most likely to be champions and by some margin of territory, attacking penetration & ambition. Everyone connected to the club should be proud of the efforts of the coaches and players which have elevated their position to 3rd in National One. As Head Coach Mark Nelson said in the clubhouse after the game, its unlikely that the two clubs will be meeting next season. But this was a real winter warmer for Fylde's biggest crowd of the season.