Lancashire Cup game

Manchester kicked off and immediately attacked the home side's half. Despite a good, early ruck, the ball found it's way to a Fylde player to race at the visitors defence. This set the pattern for much of the play in the first half. Each side determined to break through the well-drilled and encamped massed ranks of the other. Both teams executed some fantastic rucks and counter rucks - all in the no-mans-land either side of the half way line. This was junior rugby at its most absorbing. You couldn't take your eyes off it.

It took Manchester ten minutes to settle into their rhythm but they gradually began to exert themselves on the game and ask questions of the strong tackling, committed Fylde forwards. The break came half way through the first period when a series of well placed passes released a Manchester player to force his way over the try line to ground the ball between the posts to put the first points on the board. The resulting conversion sailed over the bar to increase the lead.

The ball was gathered cleanly from the resulting kick off with the Manchester player speeding over the centre line, momentum and power getting him past the outstretched hands of a couple of Fylde players, before being forced over the touchline by a fine tackle. Manchester managed to turn the ball over from the resultant line-out and attack once more but again, the rampaging player was hauled down by some fine tackling, keeping the visitors at bay.

The first half fizzled out into a battle of wills, contested in the middle third of the pitch, with neither side willing to give an inch.

Stats for this first period are as follows: Fylde kicked the ball five times whilst we kicked once. We had one line-out, which we lost whilst Fylde had five, winning two. We had two scrums, which we won, whilst Fylde were awarded four, winning all of theirs. Both sides were awarded three penalties. Stats showed that in this half the ball got out to the wing three times with five breakdowns, including two knock-ons.

HALF TIME
Fylde 0 Manchester 7

From the Fylde kick off Manchester were quickest out of the blocks and on the attack straight away. It was evident that the boys were growing in confidence as they pressurised the home side's try-line. All the good work was rewarded when, from a penalty, some great interplay saw the ball flashed left to an on-rushing Manchester forward to muscle his way through a mass of Fylde players and ground the ball over the line, again, crucially, under the posts - the boys always knew this was going to be a tough game, where securing maximum points could be the difference between a win or a loss, so the easier they made it for the kicker the better! Again the conversion was made and for a moment, just a moment, there was clear daylight between the sides.

Straight from the restart Fylde were in the boys faces. Their attack caused a knock-on halfway in the Manchester half. The resulting scrum was won by the home side who worked the ball well across the pitch. The move was held up momentarily, but Manchester gave a penalty away which the home side capitalised on, scrambling the ball over from a few yards out in the corner. The Fylde kicker sublimely stroked the conversion over from a tight angle to cut the deficit further, which brought cheers and applause from both sets of fans.

Back on a knife-edge, it was difficult to tell which way the game would go. There was more jostling for territorial advantage around the half way line before Manchester regained the initiative and some relentless carrying forced Fylde onto the back foot, pushing the home side back until they were only a few feet away from their own try line. A lose ball was fallen upon sharply by a Fylde player stopping a potential Manchester try but giving a scrum to the visitors. The ball came out and with a sniff of the try-line, wave upon wave of ball carrying Manchester players flung themselves at the resolute Fylde defence, determined to break through. All were stopped until one player, seeing a gap between bodies, plunged headlong through the crowd to score just to the side of an upright. Once again the conversion was accurate.

It looked like Manchester would break free immediately from the kick off when the ball was smartly caught by an already running Manchester forward who sprinted down the wing, storming past oncoming Fylde players before being forced into touch by a last minute despairing tackle. In the dying minutes Fylde came back strongly looking for try. They thought they'd scored but from my angle the ball was held up by the Manchester forwards, who eventually, through some persistent pressure from the home team, gave away a scrum. The ball was fed out wide and Fylde got a deserved try. Unfortunately, the conversion was missed and with that the final whistle was blown.

So, what can be said about that performance? As coaches it's particularly pleasing that the boys are taking onboard what's asked of them and are growing in confidence enough to change patterns of play themselves during the game when things aren't working out. This was a good all round team performance against an excellent, well drilled team who always asked questions of us. Manchester's competing at the breakdown and chasing down of the opposition was especially notable today. Great work fellas!

Stats for this second period are as follows: Fylde kicked the ball four times whilst once again we kicked once. We had three line-outs, winning two, whilst Fylde also had three, winning one. We had one scrum, which we won, whilst Fylde were awarded three, winning all of theirs. Both sides were awarded four penalties. Stats showed that in this half the ball got out to the wing three times with six breakdowns, including four knock-ons.

FULL TIME
Fylde 12 Manchester 21

Full credit to Fylde for a fantastic game of rugby. Both sides were very positive and it made for an incredibly positive game. Many thanks for your hospitality and best of luck for the rest of the season.