Published Date:
18 March 2009
ONE member of the Darlington family has departed for Australia, but another steps forward as Fylde RUFC bid for a place in the final of the Lancashire Cup.
Preston Grasshoppers are already through to the Easter Monday decider, but standing in Fylde's way at the Woodlands tomorrow night are Broughton Park.
Andrew Darlington is poised for his Fylde senior debut by being named on the bench as front row replacement – brother Mark has left the club in the last few days to take up an exciting job and rugby opportunity in Australia.
Fylde director of rugby Mark Nelson said: "Andrew has played for Lancashire under-20s, and I have had good reports of him from the second team."
Fylde are treating the fixture seriously and have named a strong squad to play a Broughton Park side, who are coached by Kevin O'Brien, a one -ime Lancashire team-mate of Nelson.
Fylde will be favourites against a side that play in North Two (West) but Nelson refuses to take anything for granted.
"We will treat Broughton Park with the respect they deserve, and we are not in anyway regarding it in any way as a 'gimmie'.
The venue for the final will be decided after the completion of tomorrow night's semi-final, which kicks off at 7.30pm.
The final is on April 13.
Nelson added: "It will give me the chance to look at young players like Jonny Wild, Nick Rosen, Matt Hughes, Mark Edwards and Matt Thompson."
The Fylde director of rugby is happy with the way the second XV has developed this season.
"I believe we are doing things right in terms of the structure and the feed-through to the first team."
Fylde: Waywell; Hughes, Hunter, Wiseman, Brennand; Edwards, Wallwork; Wild, Lewis, Irving, Thompson, Rosen, Palmer, Stephenson, Ferguson. Replacements from: Brookes, A Darlington, Atkinson, Beaumont, Hall, Ward, Evans.
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Last Updated:
18 March 2009 9:30 AM
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Source:
n/a
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Location:
Blackpool