Fylde RFC look to recover from back-to-back losses.

Fylde RFC boss Alex Loney believes they were better than last weekend’s 57-29 scoreline at Hull Ionians would suggest – but he admits they must improve to record a first home win of the season this Saturday.

They welcome winless Sheffield Tigers to the Woodlands (3pm), having suffered successive defeats since the opening-day victory at Billingham.

Joint-head coach Loney told The Gazette: “Ionians were good for the win and we have no complaints.

“The scoreboard says we were pretty comprehensively beaten but there was a lot of good stuff.

“We competed for long periods but we have to be better.

“We had a really good spell to take the lead but then we lost our flow and made basic mistakes.”

Fylde had a four-try bonus point inside half an hour and built a 10-point lead, only to lose the second half 31-7.

“We gave them chances which they took,” said Loney.

“Their driving maul was very good but we gave them too many easy entries into our 22.

“We have to be more consistent when it comes to applying pressure and withstanding it.”

Fylde are already missing several senior players and Leo Gilliland joined the injured list in the previous weekend’s derby defeat by Preston Grasshoppers.

As usual, Loney played down the absentees and said: “A few players will be out for a while but we are getting bodies back and all our injured players will return. We just have to manage it as best we can.

“Every club has injuries and we are not immune. Our injuries have come early this season and we just have to make sure the players who come in are as well equipped as they can be to play well.

“We had a few debutants on Saturday, players who will improve and become longstanding National League players.”

This weekend’s visitors are among three teams below Fylde in the early National Two North table.

Loney added: “Sheffield Tigers have had some tight losses. They only lost by two points last weekend (26-24 against Heath) and had plenty of that game.

“It’s a bit early to be looking at the league table, but we want that first win at home, and if we do everything we know we can, we’ll have a very good chance.”