Fylde RFC want to finish the season in winning style

That’s the view of joint-head coach Alex Loney, whose players return to action on Saturday after a three-week break between matches.

It sees Fylde travel to Sheffield Tigers (3pm) in search of a fourth consecutive victory, following on from the wins against Wharfedale, Darlington Mowden Park and Otley.

Those victories were preceded by a seven-game winless run, which is responsible for Fylde occupying sixth place in the table with three matches left to play this season.

Ten points clear of Wharfedale in seventh, they are one behind Darlington and a further eight adrift of Hull Ionians – whom they visit for their last game of the season on April 25.

“It’s not something we’re focusing on in terms of league position,” Loney told the Gazette.

“If you aren’t first then you aren’t winning. I know this year is a bit different with play-offs, but we aren’t looking at catching Hull Ionians.

“We just want to win games and we’ve done that for three on the spin.

“We have three tough games to finish with but, if we do what we can, then we’re in with a shout of winning all three.

“That’s what we’re looking at rather than being motivated by league position.”

The hope is that a week off, followed by a return to training last week might see Loney and fellow boss Chris Briers with more options at their disposal this weekend.

They have been without as many as 17 players in recent weeks, not that the coaching team is looking for any sympathy.

Instead, Loney provided a ringing endorsement for the squad as a whole with the view that Fylde have a sufficiently talented group whoever appears on matchday.

“We’ve been without players but I’m sure every team has had that problem as well,” he added.

“Obviously we would want a fully-fit squad every time we put out a team on the field this season, but the lads are all good enough.

“The team we put out at Sheffield will be good enough to win that game.”