Sponsored by
Second-half surge seals historic win
Darlington Mowden Pk 18, Fylde RU 39 FYLDE recovered from an 18-15 half-time deficit to exert their authority over DMP with four second-half tries.
This six-try victory sent the visitors up to third in National Three North and ended a five-year losing streak at Yiewsley Drive, though the achievement came at a price as knee ligament damage forced skipper Roger Banks out of the game.
Playing into a strong wind, Fylde soon incurred the displeasure of referee Guy Steel-Bodger and found themselves 12-0 down after 17 minutes.
Jon Benson converted penalties in the first and third minutes, but Fylde did not learn their lesson and two more penalties in a five-minute spell left them 12 down.
Fylde began to exert some pressure and were rewarded on 23 minutes when their hugely promising tighthead prop Kieran Brookes scattered the would-be tacklers in a 15-metre charge for his first senior try.
Neil Hunter, standing in for the injured Steve Nutt as fly-half and goalkicker, saw his conversion attempt drift wide in the strong wind.
However, Fylde suffered another setback when skipper Banks was helped off with what looked a serious knee injury.
To rub salt in the wound, Benson converted his fifth penalty to make it 15-5.
But Fylde hit back within a minute as full-back Martin Wallwork fielded a poor clearance kick and darted through a gap. He exchanged passes with centre Tom Albinson before winger Olvier Brennand raced clear for his 19th try of the season, leaving Hunter with a simple conversion.
The no.10 then levelled the scores on 37 minutes, when a penalty was advanced ten metres for dissent.
Fylde were by now dominant and pressed for a try before half-time but an intercepted pass resulted in a long-range DMP break, a first ever sinbinning for the chasing Brennand and yet another Benson goal to restore the home side's advantage at the interval.
But with the wind at their backs, Fylde took control after the restart despite being a man down.
However, the injury jinx struck again when flanker Dave Wilks was forced off and replaced in the back row by hooker Alan Holmes.
Then no.8 Dan Bowman needed treatment for a cut inflicted by DMP prop Dan Miller, who was also despatched to the bin.
From the subsequent lineout, the Fylde pack drove forward and Dan Palmer claimed the try. Hunter could not convert but Fylde led for the first time at 20-18.
Miller's return could not prevent Fylde scoring again on 66 minutes, when DMP overthrew a lineout and Palmer scooped up the ball for his third try in two games.
Fylde were now in command and pressed home their superiority with two late tries.
With two minutes on the clock, Nick Royle completed an unstoppable arcing run from 35 metres out with a try in the left corner, exquisitely converted by Hunter.
Then replacement centre Mike Waywell exploited a gap created by DMP double-marking Brennand to crown the final move of the game with a try. Hunter completed the scoring with his fourth goal.
*Danny Cipriani staked his claim for an England recall by kicking 11 points for Wasps in the 21-16 win over London Irish. The fly-half said: "If I'm playing the best in the country at no.10, then hopefully I'll get picked.''
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Blackpool
Monday 13 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 4 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 30 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 6 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 30 mph
Wind direction: North west
