More often than not games involving the sides are dour, with no quarter given and little in the way of open rugby.

But that was not the case on Saturday, when Fylde took advantage of defeats for Caldy and Macclesfield to move into the driving seat in the race for runners-up spot in National Three North.

There were nine tries – six for the home side and three for Hoppers – and the odd bit of niggle and needle, including a punch-up near the end, but Fylde did themselves proud by blotting out the opposition in the second half.

There were some worried frowns on the Fylde faces as Hoppers held a 25-22 lead at the end of a topsy-turvy first 40 minutes.

However, the home side responded in the right way after the break, sealing victory thanks to 19 points without reply.

This included two tries by Nick Royle, who rose to the occasion on his last scheduled home appearance in a Fylde jersey as he is set for a move to a Premiership side.

Fittingly, therefore, he led the teams out on to the field – by the end he had taken his tally for the season to 21 tries from 15 matches.

Centre Phil Whyte opened the scoring for Preston with a drop goal on four minutes. Fylde retaliated as winger Oliver Brennand broke down the left and linked with fly-half Steve Nutt, who touched down.

He missed the conversion and Hoppers responded with a clever move down their left, Whyte supplying winger Russell Flynn and he stormed 40 yards for a try.

Fly-half Jackson converted to give the visitors a 10-5 advantage. Fylde skipper and scrum-half Craig Aikman was a danger throughout and he burst through for an opportunist try, Nutt adding the conversion.

Jackson and Nutt both scored penalties as play continued to flow from end to end.

Flynn got on the score-sheet with his second try on 32 minutes but Fylde's response was effective and immediate as Nutt glided through for a solo try from 20 yards out. He added the conversion and Fylde were back ahead at 22-18 ... but not for long.

Centre Steffan Thomas put Whyte through a huge gap in the Fylde defence and he scored a simple try. Jackson converted to give his side that three-point half-time lead.

Fylde's pack got its act together in no uncertain terms in the second period. Aikman nipped through once more to score a crucial try. Nutt converted, restoring Fylde's lead at 29-25.

It was then that Royle produced his two-try party-piece that ultimately sealed victory.

Alive to the situation, Royle suddenly intercepted to burst through and sprint under the posts. Nutt converted and Fylde now led 36-25.

With seven minutes left Royle got in on the act once more.

He ran 20 yards and kicked over the first line of the Preston defence. As two opponents dithered, Royle caught the ball deftly and scampered between the posts, Nutt missing the goal.

However, the miss was in no way costly and Fylde ended up worthy winners, being fully in control by the final whistle.

Matt Filipo had come on for a cameo appearance in the closing stages, by which time the outcome was not in doubt. Aikman and Nutt proved a lively, match-winning combination at half-back.

So it is one win apiece in matches between Fylde and Preston this season. The 'decider' will come on Easter Monday, when the teams meet at Lightfoot Green in the Lancashire Cup final.