Fylde's Win Streak comes to an End

Fylde's five match winning run came to an end in an exciting, tough battle at Worthing Raiders' Roundstone Lane on their first ever visit to the club. Prior to the game, the Raiders had suffered the contrary fate, five successive defeats. The home side were really motivated to turn around a slide down the table and complete a double victory over the Lancastrians. Despite this defeat Fylde retain their 4th place in National One and look towards the visit of leaders Doncaster Knights to the Woodlands on Saturday (ko 15.00).

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Worthing made three changes from last week’s home defeat against Doncaster as Iain Greenwood, Joe Burns and Sam Hewick came into the starting 15 for Matt Lasis, Dan Sargent, and James Redmayne.

Raiders had a chance for an early lead after just three minutes but scrum-half Joe Govett dragged a long-range penalty wide of the left post. Fylde then profited from their first venture forwards after kicking for a line-out from a penalty. Prop Dan Burchall eventually forced his way over the line for the try from the subsequent forward drive. Ryan De La Harpe, taking over the goal kicking role from the unavailable Chris Johnson, attempted the conversion but it fell short and Fylde's lead was 5-0.

The visitors almost extended their lead instantly from the restart as winger Oliver Brennand raced away down the left wing but James Chisholm got back to put in a superb try-saving tackle.

Raiders then retook the territorial game but failed to find that final pass or gap as the Fylde defence held strong. But the visitors' task was made even harder as fullback Olly Viney was yellow carded on 21 minutes for a deliberate knock-on in a promising-looking Worthing move.

The hosts made the breakthrough on 26 minutes against 14 men Fylde as a well-worked move shifted left and then right. The home side had numbers on the left wing with the final pass finding winger Finlay Coxon-Smith who dived over the line. Govett’s attempt at the extras dropped just wide of the upright.

Raiders took a deserved lead on 36 minutes stemming from a good break forwards from the excellent Matt Miles. With Fylde and sixes and sevens at the back, a fine crossfield kick from Ben Dudley saw Coxon-Smith dive on and ground the ball. Govett’s frustrating day with the boot, however, continued as his conversion hit the left-hand post. However, the Raiders led by 10-5 at the interval. There was clearly all to play for in the last 40 minutes.

Fylde made a strong start to the second half and drew level as a good switch of play eventually saw the ball shifted to Charles Hough to cross in the far corner for his first National League try. De La Harpe's attempted conversion drifted wide.

Raiders, however, stepped back up to the plate and a fine move saw the ball worked to Kieran Leeming, who was held up just short, before Raiders proffited from a penalty and Govett found his range to put Worthing 13-10 ahead on 51 minutes.

Fylde retook the lead on 57 minutes as a good break forwards took them into the Raiders 22 and lock Gareth Gore found space to cross under the posts with Ryan De La Harpe adding the extras for a 17-13 lead.

But Raiders weren’t behind for long. Coxon-Smith capped a fine hat-trick on 62 minutes, going over just by the posts after a good drive by the Worthing pack on the near side with the ball quickly moved inside to the electric Coxon-Smith. Govett’s conversion took the score to 20-17.

Heading into the final ten minutes things really opened up with end-to-end action and Raiders sent on the powerful Charlie McGowan, Dan Sargent and James Redmayne. That move paid off for the home side as they secured the bonus point on 73 minutes with an opportunistic try. Fylde made a clean break towards the Raiders line but lost the ball in contact. A bounding break from their own half saw a exquisite pass from Kiba Richards to Ben Loosmore on the overlap who raced home to extend their lead.

A nervy finish played out with a couple of Fylde breaks, but Worthing held strong and with the clock out, Dudley’s kick for touch just made the line to bring huge cheers from the healthy crowd.