PREVIEW BIG MATCH FYLDE V SHEFFIELD RUFC
We are delighted to welcome the players, officials and supporters of Sheffield RUFC to the Woodlands today (ko 15.00), a meeting of the 4th and 2nd placed teams in National 2 (North). Our visitors have had a splendid season and were in the running with Leeds Tykes for the championship up to recent weeks when they lost a couple of games, especially when the two clubs met on 15th Feb at the Sycamores and the Tykes edged a tight and tense match by 24-18.
multi-sport base in Abbeydale Park in November 2022, 29 years later, restored the friendly rivalry. Recent seasons have seen Sheffield competing in Northern regional leagues, most frequently at level five, in the North and Midlands Premier
Divisions. Their promotion from Midlands Premier after finishing in 2nd place in 2021-22 via a play-off brought the clubs facing each other once again last season in Nat Two (North). The 2022-23 season was rather a struggle for Sheffield but they finished comfortably in 10th place in N2(N) well clear of any relegation fears and just one place behind local city rivals Sheffield Tigers. Both are located in the beautiful south west of the city, a few miles apart. Matches between Fylde and Sheffield began in the 1970s and since Marit Table & league matches there were 15 in all up to 1995. Fylde shade the bragging rights by 11-9. Sheffield’s Head Coach since late 2021 is the very experienced former fly-half Anthony Posa whose son has succeeded him as number 10 in the current squad. New Zealand-born Posa, with a Croatian family background, has been a mainstay of the Croatian National squad and earned more than 50 international caps. He is also director of rugby at the University of Sheffield, previously set up the Doncaster Knights Academy and earned four promotions in four years while in charge of Beverley. Their most high profile signing ahead of the 2022-23 season was the accomplished and powerful backrower, Ryan Burrows, who has very senior experience at Rotherham Titans, Leeds Tykes, Newcastle Falcons (including Premiership appearances) and Coventry. The durable and indefatigable no 8 has missed very few games in three seasons. Week in, week out, Ryan is of the leading forwards in N2(North). He’s had another storming campaign notching 14 tries to date. Top points scorer is scrum-half Elliot Fisher who is also having a tremendous season, notching 12 tries to date and, with kicking duties too, a total of 211 points in all putting him 2nd in the N2(N) ranking. He’s partnered at scrum- half with either Callum Posa or Jonathan West. Other mainstays of the squad include lock and Forwards Coach Dominic Parsons, formerly with Championship experience
Prior to that game, Sheffield put together a run of 17 wins and just one defeat between Sept and Feb, a fantastic achievement. They finished 3rd behind Rotherham and Leeds last season and have carried that form and ambition right through this season. Maybe they’ll go one better in 2025-26! They will certainly test Fylde to the limits. Although there’s nothing at stake in the game except pride, two very competitive squads should provide a fine spectacle in dry conditions made for running rugby. It’s hoped that the increase in attendance at the Woodlands which has occurred throughout the season will be replicated in this final league game of the 2024-25 season. Sheffield return to the Woodlands for only the third time in 30 years. There were regular fixtures between the clubs from the mid-1970s season up until 1995, most often at level three in the RFU league system, then called National League Three. Fylde’s return to Sheffield’s well established
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