Lancashire return to Twickenham after try-fest at Fylde

Lancashire's senior rugby union team advanced to their ninth Bill Beaumont County Championship final in 10 years at Twickenham with a 64-23 victory over Cheshire at Fylde RFC.
Former Fylde winger Anthony Bingham scores one of his three tries for LancashireFormer Fylde winger Anthony Bingham scores one of his three tries for Lancashire
Former Fylde winger Anthony Bingham scores one of his three tries for Lancashire

Lancashire’s senior rugby union team advanced to their ninth Bill Beaumont County Championship final in 10 years at Twickenham with a 64-23 victory over Cheshire at Fylde RFC.The Red Rose scored nine tries to see off gritty opponents at the Woodlands and clinch a place against Hertfordshire on Sunday, when the final will serve as a curtain-raiser for England v Barbarians. A feast of attacking rugby was enjoyed by World Rugby chairman and Fylde great Bill Beaumont, after whom the annual end-of-season tournament is named.Lancashire’s dynamic, free-scoring style resulted in them scoring 180 points in their three matches to top the north group on points difference from Yorkshire, who also won all their games. With club commitments finally out of the way, Lancashire’s head coach Mark Nelson was able to select from virtually a full squad for the first time in this series as Fylde front-rowers Adam Lewis and Alex Loney retained their places, with Connor Wilkinson among the replacements. A Cheshire starting line-up including nine players from Caldy showed their power from the start and took a fourth-minute lead with a penalty by winger Ben Jones.It took the home county just three minutes to hit back. A delicate pass by prop Dan Birchall put excellent lock Bob Birtwell through a gap to score. Chris Johnson added the extras for a 7-3 lead.It was an even contest for 20 minutes before Lancashire extended their lead when outstanding flanker Phil Mills drove over from close range to leave Johnson a straightforward conversion.It wasn’t one way traffic by any means and Jones’ second penalty on 25 minutes made it 14-6. Lancashire’s running game was now starting to flow, and a surge down the left by centre Scott Rawlings released former Fylde team-mate Anthony Bingham to score in the corner, Johnson converting from wide out.Cheshire hit back immediately as Nick Allsop jinked his way over the line, Jones adding the conversion and his third penalty two minutes later to cut the gap to 21-16. Rawlings battered his way through for a crucial try on the stroke of half-time and another perfect kick by Johnson made it 28-16 at the break. Lancashire winger Jordan Dorrington was stretchered off with an ankle injury and replaced by Scott Jordan for the second half.The home county made a great start to the second period, with a penalty in the opening minute by Johnson, who then converted Bingham’s second try a minute later, following skipper Lewis’ fine offload, to stretch the lead to 38-16.Former Fylde captain Evan Stewart marked his final senior game with the next try on 50 minutes, finishing a fine move down the left.Another former Woodlands man enjoying himself was fly-half Johnson, whose pinpoint kick to the right corner was caught athletically by the leaping Bingham and touched down for his hat-trick try on 59 minutes. Johnson’s seventh goal brought up the half-century. Cheshire full-back Charlie Venables’ try was converted by Jones to make it 50-23 on 65 minutes but Lancashire upped their game to score twice more in the final 10 minutes. A superb move down the left was finished by Steve Collins, then in injury time fellow replacement Scott Jordon touched down in the opposite corner. Johnson converted both to finish with nine goals from 10 attempts. Although the Lancashire team contained only three Fylde players, there were a further 14 former Woodlands men in the matchday squad of 23.In addition, head coach Nelson is assisted by his former Fylde colleague Martin Scott and by the club’s current head coach Warren Spragg. Nelson said: “Cheshire were very competitive, posed some serious challenges and were the toughest opponents we’ve met so far in 2018. But once we settled down, we played some excellent rugby in the Lancashire way. “Despite all the personnel changes we’ve made, there were some outstanding performances. We were ambitious and showed that we could score tries from anywhere on the pitch against a good defence.“With many of the players having previous Twickenham final experience, they won’t be overawed but rather inspired by that setting. Each week we’ve set ourselves challenges and next Sunday will be the biggest.”LANCASHIRE: Allen (Rossendale); Dorrington (Vale of Lune), Mayor (Sale FC), S Rawlings (Longton), Bingham (Sale ); Johnson (Sale), 9 McShane (Sedgley Park); 1 Birchall (Sale), Loney (Fylde), Lewis (Fylde), 4 Birtwell (Sedgley), Davies (Sale), Stewart (VofL), Mills (Rossendale), Ailes (Sale); replacements: Altham (Preston Grasshoppers), Maher (Sedgley), G Rawlings (Sale), Hughes (Sale), Wilkinson (Fylde), Jordan (Preston), Collins (Sedgley)