Fylde 35 Wharfedale 3

AT face value this was another heavy and worrying away defeat for Wharfedale. But, forget the scoreline. The men in green overcame an extraordinary degree of misfortune to deliver a full-blooded performance of genuine merit and true spirit.

After the match there was nothing but praise from coaching staff and travelling fans alike. This is not to suggest that Fylde were not worthy victors – but they were the unwitting beneficiaries of a barely credible series of early injuries that hit their visitors.

Before the end of the first quarter the Dalesmen had lost the core of their side to injury. Three key players – lock Richard Rhodes flanker Dan Solomi and full-back Taylor Prell – were to take no further part. They were joined on the sidelines later in the half by stand-off James Guy.

Despite the setbacks, the Greens had their full share of possession in the first half, and were desperately unlucky to reach half-time 14-3 in arrears. Fylde’s rash tactics under pressure resulted in yellow cards for full-back Warren Spragg and flanker David Fairbrother.

In the fifth minute Rhodes went down in obvious pain, and received lengthy treatment on the pitch before departing with a dislocated shoulder. Fylde capitalised on the disruption.

Two well-executed line-outs racked up the pressure, and eventually Fairbrother crashed through an over-stretched defence, his score converted by stand-off Chris Johnson.

Wharfedale returned to the attack, and a 17th-minute penalty for a foul on Solomi gave Davidson a simple chance, gratefully accepted.

The three points came at a price as Solomi forced to leave the field with a leg injury.Within a minute Taylor Prell was also limping off.

To their immense credit, the Dalesmen accepted these twists of fate, and for a lengthy period held the upper hand, the game being played mostly in the home half.

Sustained pressure carried first scrum-half James Doherty, then winger Scott Jordan, to within inches of the try-line. A surge following Spragg’s card broke down with a knock-on, but the attack continued with another Davidson penalty to a five-metre touch.

However, with Rhodes, their main jumper, out of the action, the Wharfedale line-out was faltering badly, and Davidson’s accuracy again went unrewarded.

Fylde lifted what had become a mini-siege on their line. Their own line-out was impeccably solid, and pressure from a penalty to touch 16 metres out saw them go over the visitors’ line, only to be ordered back for a Wharfedale scrum.

The next surge into the home half caused further consternation among defenders, and resulted in Fairbrother’s dismissal.

In the 34th minute Guy joined the ranks of the injured, and it was now that the flow of the game began to turn against the Greens. Philip Woodhead – at full-back after Prell’s injury – made a superb try-saving tackle on flying winger Olly Brennand.

Fylde remained on the attack and as the half drew to a close grabbed a critical try.

They were awarded what seemed a puzzling free kick as Doherty prepared to put in to a Wharfedale scrum – it transpired that No 8 Josh Burridge had moved his position after the scrum had set. Speed of thought and foot saw Johnson through the defence for a try he also converted.

As the second half progressed Fylde became increasingly dominant. The Greens still threatened on the break and never let their heads drop, despite continuing to suffer the frustration of attacking line-outs coming to nothing.

In the 53rd and 74th minutes Fylde rubbed salt into that wound with clinical effectiveness. Clean line-out takes and well-organised mauls sent lock Paul Arnold over for a brace of converted tries.

With two minutes left, Dale’s Matt Beesley – ‘prop-cum- back-row’ – and Fylde lock Gareth Rawlings were jointly adjudged the centre-piece of a brawl, both receiving red cards.

In the final action of the match Brennand set off on a sparkling run from inside the home half.

This time he evaded even Woodhead to deliver a stunning coup-de-grace.

Even the Wharfedale supporters were happy to applaud its quality.

Wharfedale: T Prell (P Woodhead 17min); S Jordan, L Davies, T Davidson, O Ciocognini; J Guy (J Prell 34min), J Doherty; C Steel (J Altham 40min), I Larkin, J Armstrong (C Steel 62min), A Howard, R Rhodes (D Stockdale 5), J Mason, D Solomi (M Beesley 17min), J Burridge.

Foresters 48 West Park Bramhope 10

SPEEDY Robbie Davidson scored five tries as Foresters secured a comfortable win despite playing without their normal fluency.

The stubborn West Park pack had a simple game plan and stuck to it as they made it difficult for the home forwards to supply the sort of ball their backs crave

Foresters opened their account when a break by centre Harry Bullough created the opportunity for full back James Druce to score. Minutes later a shrewd kick by stand-off Will Bell enabled Davidson to score a try that Druce converted.

After a quiet period of play, Wharfedale extended their lead with a try from Luke Stephenson which was followed by two more from the irrepressible Davidson.

During the second half the replacements were utilised, Tom Carlisle, Chris Howick, Sam Smith, Tom Baines and Ralph Wellock were all introduced to the game.

Max Bell, at scrum half, is developing an effectual partnership with Will Bell and did a lot of good work.

There were a couple of sloppy periods for the Greens, allowing Bramhope to score two tries, neither converted.

During the second period Davidson showed true speed to score two further tries while their was a deserved score for hard-working forward Tom Baines.