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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