Rugby Lions went down to their second home defeat of the season against a well-organised and effective Fylde outfit. Rugby’s cause was dealt a severe blow by having only one fit lock in the whole club in the shape of Stuart Riding, and judging by the strapping on his knees, he would surely not have played in any other circumstances. He stuck it out bravely until just after half time, but the sight of him being carried to the dressing room after the game does not bode well for next week’s visit to a rejuvenated Harrogate. Prop Phil Greenbury started the game at number four, and Rugby played almost the entire second half with four props on the pitch with Rich Siveter joining Greenbury in a very unlikely looking second row.

Fylde’s big pack started brightly with a series of pick and drives around the fringes putting the home defence under pressure. With the help of a number of turnovers, Rugby kept them at bay, but it was clear from early on they were living off scraps. The lineouts were always going to be a challenge for the Lion’s against their much bigger opponents, but they competed well in the scrums.

After 16 minutes the ball eventually found it’s way to Nick Royal on the visitor’s right wing, and he skipped through some ineffectual tackling to open the scoring in front of the clubhouse. The strong wind blew the conversion attempt well wide of the uprights. This gusty wind, which was mostly blowing at Lion’s backs, allowed them to clear their lines with some long punts to the cricket club corner. Fylde were caught offside following one of these lineouts and James Hawken reduced the deficit to 3-5 with a penalty on the 22 in front of the posts. Some good defence repelled a sustained period of pressure from Fylde’s pack, but it was beginning to look ominous for the Lion’s.

Rugby started the second half well, and took an unlikely lead when Fylde were again caught offside. Hawken again slotted the penalty. From the restart a strong run from Hawken was taken on by Michael Rust into the visitor’s 22. The chance was lost, however when a Lion’s player at the bottom of the ruck was penalised for not rolling away. A series of scrums on Lion’s five metre line, led to a bout of handbags being thrown, and both front rows were given a ticking off. At the next ruck, Fylde’s prop Darren Clark was harshly shown a yellow card following an intervention by the touch-judge. The resulting penalty kick from Matt Goode was amazingly kept in play by the strong cross-wind, which also helped replacement John Armstrong with a superb drop goal from wide out just inside Lion’s half. With Stuart Riding having to leave the field, Rugby had lost their only lock, and were forced to bring on Siveter to partner Greenbury. This was not to last too long, however when Greenbury was also harshly sent to the bin for overzealous use of the boot in attempting to clear an offside player out of a ruck.

In the first half of the season Rugby Lions travelled to the Woodlands Memorial Ground for the away game against Fylde, basking in the glow of having just beaten league leaders Tynedale at home. Never has the old adage, ‘’Pride comes before a fall’’, been more perfectly illustrated as the Lions were caned to the tune of 42-17. On Saturday the fixture list repeats itself, with Fylde at Webb Ellis Road as the Lions contemplate a near whitewash at Corbridge a week ago. Having just had another fall, can the Lions restore their pride?

Out of 21 games played, Fylde have 11 wins, two draws and eight losses: the two drawn games were played at Woodlands. Six of their wins were obtained when playing away from home against, Beverley, Bradford & Bingley, Macclesfield, Morley, Preston Grasshoppers and West Park. Of these six opponents, Rugby only succeeded in beating Beverley and Morley on their own turf.

The home game last season was played in January, at which time Rugby were third and Fylde fourth, both (as now) on the same points. It was a hard fought game and either side could have won. This year’s battle will probably be just as fiercely fought and could produce another game well worth watching while the TV recorder is soaking up the Calcutta Cup battle in Edinburgh. Both results are difficult to call, but Rugby and England double would be just perfect.