V SEDGLEY PARK SATURDAY, 4TH MAR 2023 KO 15.00
OFFICIAL DIGITAL MATCH DAY PROGRAMME
ISSUE 12
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THEWOODLANDS WELCOMETO
CLUB OFFICERS President
Anthony Hoskisson
Chairman Secretary Treasurer
Matt Filipo Gary Melling David Riley Jeff Gould
Immediate Past President
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CLUB & COUNTY RUGBY: THE PERFECT MATCH, BY MARK NELSON
GENERAL COMMITEE Chairman of Rugby Steve Rigby Executive Rugby Consultant Mark Nelson M-J Chair Greg Mahon Commercial Mike Davies Volunteers Co-ordinator
BRIERSY’S & LONO’S PROGRAMME NOTES
Roger Westbrook
Club Discipline
Craig Aikman
Safeguarding Lead
Caroline Melling
WOODEN SPOON & FYLDE CHARITY LUNCH
RUGBY MANAGEMENT Joint Head Coaches
Chris Briers & Alex Loney
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EXCITING DEVELOPMENTS AT FYLDE RUGBY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
1st XV Coach Aled Trenhaile Rugby Operations Manager Warren Atkinson Resources Manager Peter Conway Hawks Coach Phill Mills Saracens & Vandals
Jay Harrison, Damian King
LAST TIME OUT: TYNEDALE V FYLDE BIG MATCH PREVIEW FYLDE V SEDGLEY PARK
16-17
Chair – Mini-Juniors
Greg Mahon
Referee Liaison
Allan Townsend
4th Official Ian Cosh Match Day & Fixture Official Patrick Townsend
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MEDICAL Hon Physicians Lead Therapist
TBA
20-21 TODAY’S SQUADS
Molly Hart-Ryan
CLUB OFFICIALS Grounds & Maintenance Media, Comms & Archives
Patrick Townsend
22-23 MEET PETE ALTHAM, FYLDE’S DEAF PLAYER, BY ELLIOT BURROW
Allan Foster
Gates
John Wilkinson
STAFF Commercial & Mkting Mgr Sponsorship & Events Mgr
Naomi Dempsey Hayley Salisbury
Bars & Catering Mgr
Heather Allen Daniel Koper
Fylde Rfc, Woodlands Memorial Ground, Blackpool Road, Lytham St Annes Fy8 4El, Lancashire Phone: 01253 734733 Email: info@fylderugby.co.uk
Chef
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CLUB AND COUNTY RUGBY, THE PERFECT MATCH. A CRI DE CŒUR FROM MARK NELSON
Today’s match up of the top two in National Two North is also a Lancashire Derby between the two most successful sides in the County, certainly over the last 15 plus years. The Lancashire Senior Men’s XV side has been heavily reliant on players from both Clubs and indeed both clubs have hosted the majority of home games in the County Championship over the couple of decades. There have been manoeuvrings within certain factions to further diminish the status and resources given to The County Championships, Senior Men’s, Women’s and U20s. We have fought a rear guard action and despite persistent cuts in funding , very poor communication and marketing, and a restriction on eligibility in the 20s competition, there remains three tournaments this season. If you look at Lancashire teams since the time I have been Head Coach , 2002 to be exact, Sedgley and Fylde players have made massive contributions to the success we have achieved as a County. All those players had long tough seasons with their clubs, but come April when we begin our training programme, I give the speech “ Leave your Club Kit Bags at the door, put on your Red Rose Stash you are now Lancashire Players “. The players all give 100% passion and commitment to their Clubs from pre-season to the last game of the campaign. Many are battered and bruised after 30 tough league games ,but the honour and pride they feel at being selected to represent Lancashire and have the chance to play at Twickenham and raise the Bill Beaumont Cup is a prize worth going the extra month for. When they receive their Tie (one game), Badge (four games), Cap (ten games) at the post match dinner, the pride is palpable and if they reach the final and get presented with their playing shirt by the County President at the pre-match meeting , it is one of the most memorable highlights in their rugby experience. The County Championship is the only opportunity for representative rugby available to players outside the Premiership (the Championship doesn’t have any opportunity) and the England Counties XV has now been “mothballed“. County Rugby must be preserved not only for the players’ development and experience, but coaches, referees, medicos, management and committee people and rugby
fans who love watching representative rugby. Peoples’ experiences are enriched by performing in differing environments outside their usual surroundings. This is another angle that county rugby provides for everyone involved. The Fylde and Sedgley Park players will be going hell for leather at each other this afternoon. Both sets of Coaches will be passionately trying to lay the foundations for their teams to perform the best they can and get the win. This is of course how it should be and everyone gives everything they can for their clubs. Then come the first County Game against Cheshire on May 6th at Birkenhead Park many of the same players who will be giving their all for their clubs this afternoon will be a become a band of Lancastrian Brothers in a short and intense quest to get to a Twickenham Final. RFU, listen to me and listen to me good ….. the game needs a strong and well supported Club competition like we have in the National Leagues; it also needs a strong and meaningful representative tournament that we have in the County Championship. Look where your support structure is. Don’t pander to the fat cats in the Premiership, look after “The Game“. Everyone at Fylde this afternoon, on and off the pitch, are part of that “Game“, as are those involved at whatever level in County Rugby . Let’s have a strong Club and Representative system running side by side. It has served the game well since the nineteenth century and we need it now more than ever.
Mark Nelson March 2023
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PHILL MILLS IS NEW HAWKS COACH BREAKING: Phill Mills is the Hawks new Head Coach Fylde RFC is delighted to announce that Phill Mills has been appointed as Head Coach of Fylde Hawks for the 2022-23 season. He takes over from Dominic Moon who has stood down due to business commitments. Phill is an accomplished former Lancashire, England Counties and Fylde flanker/hooker who has also had spells at Preston Grasshoppers and Rossendale. At the age of 28 he was recently forced to retire prematurely through injury. He is also the Fylde Rugby Community Foundation Manager heading up the Foundation’s various and extremely successful rugby and sporting programmes in educational and adult communities along the Fylde Coast. He has many years experience of coaching young and older people in a wide variety of environments. Fylde’s Chairman of Rugby Steve Rigby said: “It was a sad day for the whole club and our County when Phill Mills followed medical advice and announced his retirement from rugby after a series of concussions made it a sensible decision. As a combative hard-running flanker, his energy around the park was very hard to replace, and the game temporarily lost a valuable asset.
major asset and couldn’t be happier to have him back involved directly in player development.” Phill Mills said: ““I am really looking forward to getting started with the new coaching position and preparing for the first games with the Hawks squad. I know from being a past player,
training and playing with the current group that they are an ambitious, talented and have a great team bond which goes a long way in developing a great team. I’m excited to be a part of this!” Fylde Hawks is the Club’s development route to the 1st XV and plays in the North West Independent Rugby Union League (NOWIRUL) Premier Division. An increasing number of young players are progressing through its ranks to 1st XV National League appearances.
Windmill Lodge is due to open in late Summer 2022, providing compassionate care in a warm, safe and secure environment.
The purpose-built lodge will also offer a Day Centre for those requiring extra support and companionship but are not ready to move into full-time residential care.
Providing compassionate care
However, Phill has been a great success in heading up the Fylde Rugby Community Foundation over the last few years, taking Rugby into several non-playing schools and spreading access to the game throughout the area. In addition, Walking and Wheelchair Rugby are now activities available through the Foundation under Phill’s leadership in his day time job. With last season’s Hawks Coach Dominic Moon leaving the Club in the summer due to work commitments, it was the perfect time to bring Phill’s coaching expertise to replace him, and for him to work with a talented squad. The Club knows Phill will be a Residential Care General Nursing Care Day Centre
Residential Dementia Care
Dementia Nursing Care
6 www.windmilllodge.co.uk 01253 800 000 Wilding’s Lane, Lytham St Annes, FY8 3RJ
BRIERSY’S & LONO’S & LONO’S PROGRAMME NOTES
Alex Loney writes: “Welcome to the Woodlands today for what I am sure will be a great fixture vs table topping Sedgley Park. Needless to say, last week we were not good enough in a variety of areas vs Tynedale. Yes, there was distruption in the week leading into this fixture, but playing national league rugby is a test over a number of months, and last week we fell short. Full credit to Tynedale who fully deserved their win. The league suggests that this weekend is the best 2 teams going toe to toe. We know it will be a challenge accross all areas of the pitch and we will have to be at our very best to win. Sedgley have a perfect record so far this season without losing a game, which is tough to achieve! I am confident the Fylde players will be well motivated and wanting to perform to a level that can put us in a winning position. Like the away fixture, small margins will be key, and we will do everything in our control to take our opportunities whilst managing the many threats Sedgley Park have in their team.
Enjoy the game and hope the match lives up to what many expect to be a top afternoon of rugby.”
Photo: left to right Chris Briers, Aled Trenhaile and Alex Loney.
ELSEWHERE IN NATIONAL TWO (NORTH) TODAY
ROTHERHAM T
v
SHEFFIELD
14:00
BLAYDON
v
SHEFFIELD TIGERS
15:00
HULL IONIANS
v
OTLEY
15:00
HARROGATE
v
CHESTER
15:00
WHARFEDALE
v
HUDDERSFIELD
15:00
PRESTON G
v
TYNEDALE
14:00
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Good hands!
We know how much you care about good catches and good matches. That’s how much we care about your finances. Questa Chartered are proud supporters of Fylde Rugby Club. Based on the Fylde coast and with a history of Fylde players in our midst going back generations, we help clients with savings, investments, mortgages*, pensions, retirement planning, tax, trusts, workplace pensions and more. Questa takes immense pride in being an active part of our local community, and we’ll continue to be avid and active supporters of the club - we look forward to many more years supporting such an integral part of Fylde’s history. To find out more about what we do, visit us at questachartered.co.uk or call us
on 01253 83 00 50 . If you’d rather see us in person then why not come into our office and say hello. We’re also available for virtual meetings if you would prefer. Your first meeting to discuss your financial goals is carried out at our expense, and we have good tea and coffee, too!
*Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
Questa House, Croft Court, Plumpton Close, Whitehills Business Park, Blackpool FY4 5PR
WOODEN SPOON/ FYLDE CHARITY LUNCH
Some 180 people attended the 2023 Wooden Spoon & Fylde RFC Charity Lunch at the Woodlands on 17th February. This was, in line with previous lunches, incredibly successful as an event in itself but more importantly as a charity fund raiser for WS Lancashire’s range of projects. The main speaker was Rob Henderson, former centre for London Irish, Wasps, Leinster, Munster & Toulon, and earned legendary status with 29 caps for Ireland and 3 for the British Lions. His hilarious talk reflected his famed relaxed and ‘amateur’ attitude to the demands of a newly-professional sport from the mid-1990s. Principal organiser Mark Cadley did a fantastic job with the event and attracted numerous luminaries to the audience. He singled out local heroes such as Olli Brennand, Martin Scott, Mark Nelson and, obviously, Sir Bill Beaumont and Malcolm Phillips. Stars from other sports included footballers Peter Reid, Derek Parlane and Brian O’Neil, GB Iron Man Paul Beverley
and champion cyclist Andy Slater. Ticket sales, a raffle and an auction of
memorabilia raised in the order of £12,000 for Wooden Spoon’s local charities. Many thanks to everyone who supported the event!
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EXCITING DEVELOPMENTS A TOWER INSURANCE JOINS FYLDE RUGBY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION AS FOUNDATION SPONSOR
Sponsor of the Fylde Rugby Community Foundation. Their support will significantly enhance our ability to make a lasting impact in the community through our wide range of rugby and sport programmes. Our partnership with Tower Insurance will allow us to continue providing vital resources and opportunities, delivering the many benefits our programmes offer to create ‘Rugby For All’” said Phill Mills, Foundation Manager, Fylde Rugby Community Foundation.
The Fylde Rugby Community Foundation is excited to announce Tower Insurance’s support as a Foundation Sponsor. This sponsorship aligns with the Foundation’s vision of ‘Rugby For All’ and supports providing the local community and schools with access to empowering sporting programmes. This sponsorship will enable Fylde Rugby Community Foundation to offer its various rugby and sport programmes to members of the local community and schools including vulnerable young people, underprivileged individuals, older people who are often socially isolated, and participants with disabilities. Tower Insurance Brokers are an Insurance and Risk Advisory business headquartered in Lytham, Lancashire with offices also in London, Texas (USA) and Florida (USA). Specialising in the running of Insurance Mutuals, Risk Management Advisory as well as business and personal Insurance, Tower are well placed to provide the best advice to you, for all your insurance requirements. The Directors and Senior Management team have over 100 years’ experience between them so have a wealth of knowledge across most business sectors. Tower have become one of the country’s largest “Independent Insurance Brokers” and act for many national businesses in addition to some of the region’s largest companies.
For more information about Tower Insurance, please visit https:/ towerinsurancebrokers.co.uk/
For more information about The Fylde Rugby Community Foundation, please visit https:/ www.fylderugbyfoundation.com/
KIDS PLANET RUGRATZ RUGBY RETURNS TO FYLDE RUGBY CLUB
Sean Killingbeck (right), Director of Tower, speaks of his passion to support local community- based organisations; “We are delighted to become a Foundation sponsor of the Fylde Rugby Community Foundation and look forward to supporting the fantastic work they do, and the clear benefits they bring to the local community.
The Fylde Rugby Community Foundation is a registered charity which delivers rugby-based programmes to the community, providing a fun and inclusive environment for all. Its aim is to promote health, well-being, and social inclusion through rugby. The Foundation is dedicated to creating a fun and inclusive environment for everyone, regardless of age, gender, or ability, ‘Rugby For All’. With the help of its Key Partners and Stakeholders, the Foundation is committed to making a positive impact on the lives of individuals in the local community.
Fylde Rugby Community Foundation is excited to announce the return of its popular Kids Planet Rugratz Rugby sessions, beginning this Saturday, March 4th, back at Fylde Rugby Club. Starting from 09.00 – 10.00am, these fun and interactive sessions are designed specifically for preschool children aged 3, 4 and 5 and offer a fantastic opportunity for young children to develop their evasion skills and learn the basics
of tag rugby whilst having lots of fun.
“We are delighted to welcome Tower Insurance as a Foundation
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AT THE FYLDE RUGBY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION The six-week block of sessions promises to be both fun and educational, providing children with the opportunity to improve their physical coordination, balance, and teamwork in a safe and supportive environment. If your child is looking for a new and exciting way to stay active, Kids Planet Rugratz Rugby is the perfect choice. The Fylde Rugby Community Foundation (FRCF) are pleased to announce the appointment of Myles Pearson as a specialist wheelchair rugby coach. The appointment will mean that Pearson is part of the coaching staff helping to deliver wheelchair rugby on the Fylde Coast.
Sessions are priced at just £6 per session, with a total cost of £36 for the full six-week block. With limited spaces available, interested parents and guardians are encouraged to sign up early to secure their child’s place. “We’re thrilled to be bringing back our Kids Planet Rugratz Rugby sessions to Fylde Rugby Club” said Phill Mills, Foundation Manager. “These sessions have proven to be incredibly popular in the past, and we’re confident that this new block will be no different. Our experienced Community Rugby Coaches are excited to work with young children and help them develop their skills and confidence.” For more information about Kids Planet Rugratz Rugby or to register your child for the upcoming block of sessions, please contact Phill Mills at community@fylderugbyfoundation.com or visit our booking website www.clubs- hub.com/fylderugbycommunityfoundation
Pearson, who brings with him almost fifteen years of wheelchair rugby experience, has competed at the highest level including at the London 2012 Paralympics. His list of achievements in elite sport also contain three European Championship medals, including a gold, and one World Games gold. Myles has also made a name for himself as a public speaker where he delivers talks at charity, corporate and school events. His aim is to inspire the next generation of athletes; able or disabled. Rugby Development Manager Ben Turner said, “We’re really pleased to have Myles on board. His knowledge of the sport is excellent, whilst he’s been brilliant at developing the club behind the scenes too. His passion certainly shines through, not just for wheelchair rugby, but for his local community –he certainly loves the Fylde Coast!” On his appointment, Pearson said, “After being raised in the area, and being part of the community, I think it’s brilliant that the FRCF are delivering these sessions. It is so important that there are competitive sporting opportunities for those who’re disabled. Up until I was about 12, I never had that and I feel a great sense of pride that I can be part of growing wheelchair rugby on my home turf. Wheelchair Rugby is such a great sport and not just on a competitive level. It offers great social opportunities for those wanting to be part of a team sport. My ambition for the club is pretty simple. Although I want to win win win because that is my background; more importantly I want to ensure that the club is sustainable and help to grow and develop it’s athletes not just on the court but off it too.” If you would like to give Wheelchair Rugby a go in 2023 the Fylde Rugby Community Foundation host sessions every Monday evening FREE OF CHARGE from 18:45 in
We can’t wait to see your little Rugratz on the field this Saturday!
MYLES PEARSON IS ONBOARDED AS WHEELCHAIR RUGBY COACH!
the Green Sports Hall at AKS School just of King Edward Avenue, FY8 1DT.
For more information you can contact Ben Turner, Rugby Development Manager at rdm@fylderugbyfoundation.com or call 07949 504 857
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LASTTIMEOUT SLOG ON THE TYNE: IN-TUNE A depleted and somewhat subdued Fylde suffered just their third defeat of the season at the hands of an honest, hardworking Tynedale team who ran hard, box-kicked cleverly and tackled tenaciously. Tynedale’s simple but effective tactics frustrated a Fylde team that, despite unavailability and injuries, still had the personnel and skills to win the game. The fact they were unable to raise their game to the tempo required to stress the home defence for long enough showed just how hard Tynedale worked. Fylde were not able to locate their missing mojo often enough to finish off their scoring opportunities and looked a bit weary, which is not a surprise given the number of players missing, and the amount of knocks some of those playing are carrying, a tough campaign is starting to take its toll. With Sedgley winning their 18th straight game, Fylde now sit 6 points behind the league leaders, who also have a game in hand. Fylde remain 15 points clear of third placed Otley, but Otley do have 2 games in hand. have a speedster in support and the move broke down 5 yards out. Fylde did have the scrum but conceded the penalty on their own put in, allowing Tynedale to clear their lines. This early failure to convert good scoring opportunities was to become a theme that Fylde would come to regret. They did, however, manage to restore parity at 5-5 in the 19th minute when Conor Wilkinson forced his way over after some patient build up play. In the 24th minute Tynedale edged ahead again. First, they forced a turnover penalty as Fylde struggled to exit their own half. This was marched back a further 10 yards by the ref due to too much Fylde chatter, again something that was too prevalent on the day. This made TYNEDALE 23 V FYLDE 12: MATCH REPORT BY SIMON TAYLOR
The good news in midweek was that Dave Fairbrother’s red card from the week before was downgraded to a yellow by the disciplinary panel, and that Tom Carleton was available for the first time in a veritable age, for only his seventh game of the season. The bad news was that Zach Barrow, the durable Oli Parkinson and Sam Stott were added to the injury list. This meant both Harlan Corrie and Toby Harrison were asked to play out of position at second row. Henry Higginson came back into the back row with the reprieved Fairbrother and Sam Parker, once again playing out of position as the other wing forward. Joe Higgins joined Patreece Bell as the replacement props with Scott Rawlings starting in place of Stott, Jordan Dorrington moving to the wing to accommodate Carleton’s return. Fylde started in the worst possible fashion. In a carbon copy of the home game against Hoppers, they received the kick off but failed to exit effectively, knocking on and turning over ball. Six phases later Tynedale winger Alex Dryden crossed in the corner. Fylde were 5-0 down and Tynedale’s dander was well and truly up. Fylde had a chance to respond immediately when Tynedale’s box-kick exit was a bit too long, probably the only time that happened all day. Fairbrother fielded and fed Tom Carleton who showed no rustiness as he scythed through the middle. Unfortunately, he did not
the kick easier, and Tynedale’s full back Rob Parker knocked it over to make it 8-5. On 35 minutes Fylde had a disastrous 90 seconds of play. Good pressure on the Tynedale line was undone as Tynedale counter- rucked Fylde off the ball and kicked to touch. The Fylde lineout was overthrown, they then lost their own scrum, conceded another penalty and Tynedale ended up with a scrum 5 yards out. With the scrum inching forward and the Fylde back row tied in, Tynedale spun the ball left and stand off Josh Leslie touched down, allowing Tynedale to take a 13-5 lead into the break. Early in the second half Fylde made a break out of nowhere but an excellent cover tackle forced Jordan Dorrington into touch just short of the try line. In the next few minutes another misfired line out then a penalty followed and 2 hefty kicks later Tynedale had pinned Fylde deep in their own territory again. A series of penalties in Fylde’s 22 saw Tynedale choose the scrum option repeatedly. Finally, the pressure told as
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E TYNEDALE TOPPLE OFF-KEY FYLDE Tynedale chose to spin the ball at the right time again, with Rob Parker scoring and converting to make it 20-5.
had run out of patience with the advice he was being given. He penalised Fylde instead and Rob Parker knocked the penalty over to make it 23-12. Fylde had run out steam now and the slog on the Tyne came to an end with no further score. Tynedale had performed the basics very well and executed a game plan to stifle and thwart an admittedly off-key Fylde. There was no lack of effort in the display with Harlan Corrie and Toby Harrison deserving a shout out for playing out of position, running, and tackling hard despite their unaccustomed duties in the engine room of the pack. Unfortunately, Fylde could not take advantage of the scoring chances they did create, some of that was due to their own error count but full credit to Tynedale for forcing those errors and never letting Fylde settle into a rhythm. They are only the second team this season, after leaders Sedgley, to deny Fylde any match points at all. Fylde coaches Loney & Briers will look to rally their troops, hopefully get a few more bodies back and come up with a game plan and the right motivational message to be the team that finally ends Sedgley Park’s 100% record in a massive game at the Woodlands next week. It will be a Herculean task, but the incentive is dragging them back into the mix, whereas a loss will probably see Fylde’s title ambitions effectively done and dusted for another season, the motivation to win is clear for all to see. [Photos reproduced courtesy of photographers John & Barbara Austin. For an album of their excellent action photos go to http:/ bit.ly/3ZiI4D2 ]
The Fylde coaches made changes with Scott Rawlings making way for Ben Turner, who came on at wing, with Dorrington moving to full back and Carleton to centre. Patreece Bell replaced Matt Ashcroft at prop. Fylde finally managed to force some sustained tempo and, for a time, cut out the errors. Penalties and field position followed, resulting in Conor Wilkinson making a nice, powerful surge from 10 yards out for his and Fylde’s second try of the day on 55 minutes. Greg Smith converted, and Fylde were back in it, still 20-12 down but finally stressing the home defence in a significant
manner.
Fylde had the bit between their teeth now, forcing a kickable penalty which would have brought them back within a score. Sensing they had momentum, they chose to tap and go, sadly then being penalised for holding on, Tyndedale clearing their lines once more. Fylde did gain their first scrum penalty and pegged Tynedale back once more. Harlan Corrie took the clean line out ball, the phases were set up, but another turnover penalty was won by Tynedale and the danger was cleared yet again. A heavy contact between the Tynedale number 8 and Sam Parker saw both players leave the field and Freddie Deeks came on for some late game time, Tom Forster, and Joe Higgins also on as Carleton understandably ran out of legs and Corey Bowker was given a rest. Fylde again looked to force the tempo, but their momentum had gone, errors, wrong options or good cover defence meaning their remaining chances came to nought. In looking to run from deep they claimed for a high tackle too vociferously, the referee disagreed and
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BIG MATCH
previous league games between the clubs. These
It’s 2nd v 1st in N2N when Fylde welcome unbeaten league leaders Sedgley Park to the Woodlands on Saturday (ko 15.00), the toughest possible challenge for the home side. Fylde’s form in recent weeks has stuttered somewhat as injuries and unavailabilities have made serious incursions into their squad. Sedgley have had a superb season, winning all 19 games to date, breezing through fixtures in 2023. They have been threatened in a few matches but have buckled
fixtures began in 2001 and the first four games up to 2003 were all won by Sedgley. The clubs then went their different ways, with Sedgley eventually elevated to the Championship (level 2) between 2004 – 2009 as Fylde slipped to level 4. Sedgley’s relegation to National One, and Fylde’s promotion to that division in 2011, brought the clubs together again in the period 2011 – 2013. The four games in this sequence were all won by Fylde but Sedgley’s relegation in April 2013 separated the clubs once more. Fylde’s return to National Two (North) for the 2018-19 campaign brought them back together. Wins by each club that season, both away from home, was followed by Fylde’s tense 17-10 home victory in Dec 2019 before the abandonment of the league wiped out the Park Lane encounter. Fylde’s three successive defeats in 2021-22 and 2022-23 means that the Tigers hold the bragging rights with 8 victories to Fylde’s 6. Woodlands Park Lane Fylde result 2001-2 19-22 37-15 L/L 2002-3 11-27 53-28 L/L 2011-12 43-10 13-29 W/W 2012-13 12-11 20-59 W/W 2018-19 12-28 14-22 L/W 2019-20 17-10 W 2021-22 0-38 37-22 L/L 2022-23 30-20 /L
down and battled through in close encounters. However, Fylde will be protecting their own proud 100% home record so this is shaping up to be a enticing encounter between Lancashire’s top two RU teams who have great mutual respect.
Sedgley’s progress this season has been magisterial:
The memory of two heavy defeats at the hands of the Tigers last season will still be fresh in Fylde players’ minds, especially the 0-38 hiding they received at the Woodlands twelve months ago. The home side were never at the party on a waterlogged pitch facing a totally focussed Sedgley squad who played the conditions to perfection. In the earlier game at Park Lane in October, Sedgley pounded the Fylde defence and built up a 37-3 lead just after half-time. A late 2nd half resurgence by the visitors restored some pride with a final 37-22 score line. This season’s game at Park Lane was much closer, with Sedg coming out on top by 30-20. In recent seasons the two clubs have been Lancashire’s highest ranked in the RFU league system. They have a close relationship built on mutual respect and in their joint commitment to Lancashire county rugby as Head Coach Mark Nelson has described elsewhere in this programme in his plea for the greater recognition of County rugby. A number of players in the current squads have played for both clubs. Sedgley’s Steve Collins, Mark Goodman, Cameron Crampton, Tane Bentley and Danny Maher have, collectively, made many appearances for Fylde. Fylde’s Chris Briers, Greg Smith, Adam Lewis and Olli Parkinson have spent seasons at Park Lane. Many of the other players know each other very well from Lancashire U’20s and senior squad duties. Rather surprisingly, there have only been fourteen
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The rise of the Tigers from the Northern regional leagues to the heights of the Championship where they survived for five heady seasons was a kind of fairy tale. Quality recruitment and coaching plus astute management off the field was the basis of this success. They achieved this without over stretching their financial resources, no mean achievement for a club which struggled to attract big crowds in football dominated Manchester. The Tigers have been pushing for promotion from National Two (North) in the last seven seasons, on three occasions finishing runners up but losing two play-off games. Their Director of Rugby is former Fylde favourite
The Tigers pack is traditionally powerful, with notable contributors such as props John Blanchard, Beltus Nonleh, Ben Black and Alex Brooks, the outstanding Lancashire County lock Bob Birtwell, often partnered with Connor James in the 2nd row (before a serious recent injury has ruled him out), and former KGS flanker Tane Bentley. Influential no 8 is Tom Ailes, who moved to Park Lane in 2019 from Sale FC. Hooker Danny Maher missed all last season through injury but has came back with a bang in this campaign and sits high in the N2(N) try scoring ranking with 13 to date. If Fylde discipline falters The dangerous backline includes speedy wingers (and leading try scorer in the division by some measure) Rhys Henderson and Jamie Harrison, major young
talent, centre Ollie Glasse, fly-half ‘Piggy’ Collins, and the versatile Rob Holloway. The scrum- half berth this season has been shared between the experienced Sam Stelmaszek and the
Scott Barrow and he’s assisted by Head Coach Steve Hazzleby and other coaches including another former Fylde player, Jonny Rodham. The Sedgley squad is characterised by loyalty and a deep commitment to the Club. This is summed up by the extraordinary service provided by, for instance, the so called ‘Sedgley Truck’, Matt Riley. The powerful centre has made over 400 1st XV appearances for the club since 2005. From 2012 he has been accompanied in the Sedgley backline by full back or winger, brother Andrew, who himself has run up more almost 240 appearances. The playmaker and principal goal kicker is the Lancashire and former Fylde favourite, the mercurial and evergreen fly-half Steve Collins who has also made more than 200 appearances for the Club. Local Fylde resident, Lytham High School maths teacher and former flanker/no 8 at the Woodlands, Mark Goodman, has become a very influential member of the Sedg pack.
younger Cameron
Crampton and Jacob Tansey.
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Are your financ www.ludco.co.uk
COACHES: CHRIS BRIERS, ALED TRENHAILE AND ALEX LONEY FORWARDS Peter Altham (prop) Matt Ashcroft (prop)
Zack Barrow (prop) Patreece Bell (prop) Corey Bowker (prop)
Harlan Corrie (backrow) David Fairbrother (no 8) Matt Garrod (lock) Ben Gregory (hooker) Toby Harrison (backrow) Joe Higgins (prop) Henry Higginson (backrow) Sam Parker (hooker)
Ben O'Ryan (backrow) Olli Parkinson (lock)
Charlie Partington (backrow) James Robinson (backrow) Tristan Woodman (backrow) BACKS Tom Carleton (fullback) Alex Clayton (flyhalf) Jordan Dorrington (wing/15) Tom Forster (centre) Tom Grimes (wing) Adam Lanigan (scrumhalf) Scott Rawlings (centre) Greg Smith (flyhalf) Sam Stott (centre) Matt Sturgess (scrumhalf) Ben Turner (wing) Connor Wilkinson (centre)
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KIERON HENRY
DON HELME
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ces under control? Ludlow Wealth Management Group is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. ces under control? Ludlow Wealth Management Group is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
SCOTT BARROW Andrew Riley Rhys Henderson
DIRECTOR OF RUGBY:
15 14 13 12
Oliver Glasse
Matt Riley
Jamie Henderson
11
Steve Collins
10
Sam Stelmaszek
9
John Blanchard Danny Maher Beltus Nonleh Bob Birtwell George Bordill Mark Goodman Tane Bentley
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Tom Ailes
Cashel Chilvers Adam Mallinson
16 17 18 19 20
Ben Black Joe Bedlow Oscar Crowe
www. fylderugby .co.uk
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PETEALTHAM: FYLDE’S DEAF RU
time to go. Ten years ago I struggled because the rules were different but I benefit more with the news rules and still carry out the roles that a prop forward needs to do.” Born in Skipton, his dad John was a farmer and moved the family to France for work when Pete was only one. It was there they realised an issue with his hearing. “We were in the countryside so I was pretty much free to roam anywhere and that’s just what I did,” Pete said. “My dad would be calling me, trying to shout me to come back but he never got a response so he said to mum something wasn’t right. We came back to England for tests and it was there we found out I had been profoundly deaf since birth.” Pete and his family returned to Yorkshire which is where at an early age he first picked up a rugby ball. Surrounded by the sport through his dad’s links as a player with Skipton, Pete began his career aged four with nearby club Northallerton – as he took his first step in not letting deafness define him. Pete had already made his mind up about which code he was going to play as well. “It’s always been union for me,” Pete said with a wide smile when asked if he ever considered playing rugby league. “My first memory of rugby was when I went to watch Newcastle Falcons in the 1990’s and New Zealand loose forward Pat Lam was running riot all over the pitch. I was only 14 when Johnny Wilkinson slotted that drop goal over to win England the Rugby World Cup and I thought I want do something like that.” After moving through the junior ranks, Pete started his senior career at Wharfedale – North Yorkshire – where his two brothers George and Joe currently play. Mum Amanda was not particularly keen on the trio playing at first, however, those worries were soon erased.
Meet Pete Altham, a deaf PE teacher who is not letting his condition stop him from playing the sport he loves here at Fylde Rugby Club. Diagnosed with deafness aged 18-months- old, Pete wears hearing aids to help but his condition has never stopped him from playing the game he loves – rugby union. You may be wondering then just how does he manage to do it? “I just play what’s in front of me,” Pete said. “It’s all about the visual aspects of the game and that’s why I always say to the players to look at what is in front of you and play with your eyes open.” Pete, who is a PE teacher at Myerscough College, has never seen it as a negative though. Instead he believes it is more of an advantage. His prop position means he is involved in scrums – a way of restarting play that involves players packing closely together
with their heads down and attempting to gain possession of the ball all on the instructions of the referee – something Pete cannot hear. The 33-year-old said: “I get the people behind me in the scrum to hold my shorts and then slap my leg when it’s
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UGBY PLAYER, BY ELLIOT BURROW Eldest Pete, alongside youngest brother
George – who is also deaf – have both gone on to represent their country on the international stage having ran out for the England deaf side. Soon Pete swapped the white rose of Yorkshire for a Lancashire red rose to play for Fylde where he joined on an initial loan before making the move permanent. It was here where he met his wife Saoirse, with whom he now has two children, and rubbed shoulders with a member of the 2003 World Cup winning squad, Jason Robinson. Robinson, or ‘Robbo’, who scored a try in the 20-17 World Cup triumph over Australia, played alongside Pete at Fylde when he joined for a season in 2010 as a 36-year-old. Robinson, who also played for Sale Sharks in union and Wigan Warriors in rugby league, helped Fylde gain promotion back to the National League One before he retired from the sport at the end of the campaign following knee surgery. “It was just unbelievable,” Pete said when he found out Robinson had joined. “I was 21-year-old at the time and this guy played at the highest level in both codes of rugby and won almost everything there was to win – then he went to sharing a changing room with me. He just treated you like a normal person and was really down to earth. He’s from Yorkshire which made it even better!”
Despite not playing with his hearing aids in, Pete has represented the England deaf team and both Lancashire and Yorkshire at county level. He’s played at the home of English rugby union Twickenham, and returned to Fylde at the start of the season after spending time at neighbours Preston Grasshoppers where he helped the club gain promotion back to the National League Division Two North. Fylde captain Ben Gregory, who plays alongside Pete in the front row, says he still can’t get his head around how his teammate does it. He said: “It amazes me. Luckily for us Pete is really good at lip reading, so during the game you are able to pull him to one side and give him the message you want and he takes it on well and reacts. If you are trying to communicate with him as the ball is live it’s just a case of getting his attention, which isn’t difficult as he is great at being aware of who’s around him and always looking for messages.” Unfortunately, Pete’s season is finished after undergoing an operation on his left pectoral, however, he still has his teacher duties to fulfil while he waits to return to playing.
www. fylderugby .co.uk
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FROM THEARCHIVES 14th April, 2007.
Fylde 24-9 Cleckheaton Fylde’s line-up that day:
15 Stuart Blackburn; 14 Nick Royle, 13 David Wiseman, 12 Paul Reeves, 11 Ollie Brennand; 10 John Armstrong, 9 Daniel Fluker; 1 Sam Simpson, 2 Alan Holmes, 3 Darren Clark, 4 Nick King, 5 Roger Banks, 6 Dan Bowman, 7 Daniel Waller, 8 Dylan O’Grady. Replacements: Adam Lewis, Alex Moffatt, Sam Beaumont, Oliver Austin. Fylde finished in 5th place in National Two (North) at the end of the 2026-27 season.
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1STXVFIXTURES &RESULTS2022-23
NAT TWO LEAGUE (NORTH)
W/L/D
W
13-Aug-22 20-Aug-22 27-Aug-22 03-Sep-22 10-Sep-22 17-Sep-22 24-Sep-22 01-Oct-22 08-Oct-22 15-Oct-22 22-Oct-22 29-Oct-22 05-Nov-22 12-Nov-22 19-Nov-22 26-Nov-22 03-Dec-22 10-Dec-22 17-Dec-22 24-Dec-22 31-Dec-22 07-Jan-23 14-Jan-23 21-Jan-23 28-Jan-23 04-Feb-23 11-Feb-23 18-Feb-23 25-Feb-23 04-Mar-23 11-Mar-23 18-Mar-23 25-Mar-23 01-Apr-23 08-Apr-23 15-Apr-23 22-Apr-23 29-Apr-23 06-May-23
BLACKBURN (friendly)
50-29 34-14
L
Sale FC (friendly)
W W W W W W W W
CHESTER
34-29
Preston Grasshoppers
6-22 74-5
HARROGATE
Hull Ionians BLAYDON
31-34
42-7
Rotherham Titans WHARFEDALE
16-41
43-3
TYNEDALE Sedgley Park
43-10 30-20 57-14
L
W
HUDDERSFIELD
W W
Sheffield RUFC
5-24
SHEFFIELD TIGERS
20-11
- -
Otley
Postponed Postponed
PRESTON GRASSHOPPERS
Christmas New Year Harrogate
W W W W
0-52
HULL IONIANS
22-15 12-31 30-23 28-27 32-29
Blaydon
ROTHERHAM TITANS
L
Otley
W W
PRESTON GRASSHOPPERS
6-24
Wharfedale
L
23-12
Tynedale
SEDGLEY PARK
Huddersfield
SHEFFIELD RUFC
Sheffield Tigers
Easter OTLEY Chester
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THE LATEST FROM NATIONAL TWO (NORTH) UPDATE FROM SATURDAY, 25th FEBRUARY
National Two North: courtesy of the National League The National Two North title race experienced its latest twist as Tynedale emerged with a 32-12 victory over promotion challengers Fylde. The Lancashire club had begun the afternoon one point behind league leaders Sedgley Park but now find themselves six points adrift of the summit ahead of their meeting with The Tigers this coming Saturday. Connor Wilkinson scored a try in each half for the visitors, but they were never in front in the North East. Alex Dryden, Josh Leslie and Rob Parker went over for Tynedale – who arrested a run of three straight losses – while the latter also kicked eight points from the tee. Sedgley Park took full advantage of Fylde’s mishap but were made to work hard for their 35-31 bonus- point success against Wharfedale. Danny Maher grabbed a hat-trick for the table-toppers while a late brace from Dale full-back Louis Verity secured The Greens two points. In terms of the battle to avoid the drop, Preston Grasshoppers were able to collect two bonus points in their 37-31 defeat to Chester. Hoppers displayed their character to come from 19 points down to depart Hare Lane with something to show for their efforts
and they are now 12 points clear of the bottom two. The current occupants of the relegation places are Harrogate and Blaydon who both suffered setbacks in Round 20. After a bright start, the Yorkshire outfit lost 31-13 at Otley while a simply stunning performance from Sheffield’s Elliott Fisher condemned Blaydon to a 64-5 defeat. The scrum-half scored four tries and kicked seven conversions to help the home side to victory while the result leaves the North East club 18 points from safety with six games to play. Meanwhile, Hull Ionians (4th) beat Sheffield Tigers 17-10 at Dore Moor while Kian Stewart scored four of Huddersfield’s five tries in their 39-27 win over Rotherham Titans while brother Finlay grabbed the other at Lockwood Park.
N2N 25th Feb Chester
(4) 37 - 31 (5) (4) 31 - 13 (2) (2) 10 - 17 (2) (10) 64 - 5 (1)
Preston G Harrogate Hull Ionians
Tynedale
(3) 23 - 12 (2) (5) 39 - 27 (3) (5) 35 - 31 (5)
Fylde
Otley
Huddersfield Sedgley Park
Rotherham Wharfedale
Sheffield Tigers
Sheffield
Blaydon
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