Fylde RFC 43 Otley 26: Woodlands crowd treated to a feast of running rugby
Fylde made it three consecutive National Two North victories after winning an 11-try match at the Woodlands on Saturday.
A big crowd of 910 for Ladies Day saw an open, running match, in which both teams were committed to attacking rugby.
Otley took the lead in the fifth minute after Fylde lost possession in their 22 and the backs moved the ball smartly along the line.
Dangerous winger Josh Law went over in the left corner for his first of the afternoon, though Freddie Spensley’s attempted conversion from near the touchline drifted wide.
Fylde hit back almost immediately when the Otley backs attempted to run the ball out of their half.
Will Hunt read the move perfectly, making one of his trademark interceptions 35 metres out and racing clear to score under the posts.
They broke the defensive line again on the quarter-hour, Ben Turner bursting 50 metres before Ben Walton continued the charge and offloaded to Tom Forster whose try made it 12-5.
Another try came with half-time approaching as Greg Morgan somehow shrugged off two challenges by twisting and driving over the line as Fylde’s lead increased to 17-5.
It was looking good for them, only for the visitors to respond in the 38th minute after Fylde spilled the restart kick and the ball was hacked through towards the line.
Law won the race for the loose ball with Spensley’s conversion putting Otley right back in contention as they were five points adrift at 17-12.
Nevertheless, Fylde responded before the break with Otley pinned in their 22 but defending well.
Dan Slawson’s clever long pass found Jordan Dorrington in space on the left touchline, where he cantered over for a try which Hunt converted to give them a 24-12 advantage at the break.
The second half began with Otley being awarded an early penalty and, by the time Fylde had looked back up, visiting scrum-half Will Beanland was already under the posts for a converted try.
Both sides enjoyed periods of momentum for the next 20 minutes or so, Fylde bagging their next try just after the 50-minute mark.
It was Ben Dorrington scoring this time, driving over in the left corner with Slawson converting from the touchline to give Fylde a 31-19 lead.
Otley responded, the impressive Scott Irvine muscling his way over on the hour and Spensley’s conversion again bringing them back within five points.
A scuffle in the middle of the pitch eight minutes later ended with Otley replacement Ryan Gibson yellow-carded, though Slawson’s long-range penalty drifted wide.
Fylde now had possession and territory though, capitalising with another try in the 73rd minute.
The ball was worked well through the backline before Jordan Dorrington crossed to make the score 36-26.
Victory was completed moments later as brilliant backs running put Fylde in Otley’s 22 and David Fairbrother picked up a loose throw at a lineout to score under the posts.
Fylde RFC: Slawson, Turner (Lanigan 67), Forster, Stott, J Dorrington, Hunt (Clayton 40), Gould, Bowker, Trippier (Rudkin 64), Rudkin (Lewis 32), Walton (Senior 52), Garrod, Morgan, B Dorrington (Walton 64), Fairbrother.
Otley: Raubitschek, Law (Rowntree 56), Holmes, Sellers (Jackson 77), Sarsfield, Spensley (Howard 74), Beanland, Moss (Mudd 21), McCormack, Baxter (Moss 35, Baxter 50), Acland (Jackson 42), Jackson (Culf 35, Gibson 65), Lunn, Freeman, Irvine.