Blackpool Back With A Bang!!!

Derby Day Joy

Blackpool started the new league season off with a bang, turning in a fantastic team display as they racked up an impressive victory over local rivals Fleetwood. Hard work during the summer both in terms of recruitment and pre-season preparations meant that the hosts were able to name a strong squad for the visit of their neighbours from up the Fylde coast.

As you would expect from a derby fixture the game began at a frantic pace with both sides attempting to establish a foothold in the contest. It was the hosts who struck first as powerful carries from Dean Finegan and Louis Shelton carried them deep into Fleetwood territory, forcing the visitors into conceding a penalty, which Leon Mason coolly dispatched to hand Blackpool an early 3 – 0 lead. The visitors to their credit came storming back and the home side were forced to repel wave after wave of attack with superb scrambling, and often brutal, defence from the likes of Chris Parlour and Stuart Charnock amongst others, keeping Fleetwood at bay.

After weathering this attacking pressure, Blackpool shifted seamlessly as a great break from Adam Glover, saw the fly half dance past a number of would be tacklers before producing a fantastic cut out pass to send winger James Carty scorching down the touchline on a 40m run to touch down under the sticks, with Mason's successful conversion increasing the lead to 10 – 0. Minutes later the home side were over the whitewash again as a great carry and pass from Daniel Komosinski found Antony Clark with the winger producing a offload out of the tackle to send the supporting Jamie Robertson diving over for a try.

Blackpool went further in front as powerful runs from Tristan Ainscough, Mick Harrison and Baz Tucker created the platform for Komosinski to rampage over the tryline from close range taking a number of Fleetwood defenders with him in the process to establish a 20 – 0 lead. A number of penalties gifted the visitors field position and possession in the closing stages of the half, but once again they were met by resolute defence from the home side with Luke Crosbie and Gordon Richmond leading the way as the hosts took a commanding lead into the half time interval.

The second period began in much the same vein as the first had with neither side really able to take control although the introduction of Pete Wilkinson, Niall Crane and Rob Dixon from the bench gave Blackpool the fresh impetus they needed. The game burst back into life as Glover showcased some more fancy footwork as he scythed through some would be tacklers and raced away to score a superb 50m solo try under the sticks with Mason once more adding the conversion. Blackpool were soon in again as an offload from Richmond released centre Paul Vuti, who was dragged down just short of the tryline, but a produced a superb pass out of the tackle to send the supporting Clark diving in at the corner. Glover added the conversion to establish a commanding 34 – 0 advantage.

The home side were clearly in the ascendancy at this stage and it came as no surprise when they scored again as a good work from Robertson, Harrison and Finegan provided the platform for Tucker to bulldoze his way over the whitewash from close range. Despite the disruption of losing Mason and Wilkinson to game ending injuries, Blackpool crossed once more as Crane latched onto Crosbie's pass and surged through a gap to race 30m to touch down to take his side beyond the 40 point barrier. Fleetwood to their credit did not give in and threatened briefly only to be halted by some more impressive defence from the home side with substitutes Russell Woodward and Gareth Wing putting in some great cover tackles. With time running out Blackpool had time for one last try as Vuti broke from deep and fed Carty who raced down the wing before flicking the ball back inside to Vuti who crossed under the sticks with Crosbie adding the conversion to a seal a fantastic 51 – 0 win.

In a fantastic team display from every player to don the Blackpool shirt, any number of individuals could have took the man of the match honoors, but in the end the award fittingly went to number eight Daniel Komosinski, who put in an all action display in both defence and attack, capping his performance with a well earned try. Credit must also go to Fleetwood, who never gave in and played their part in a fantastic derby game with thanks also to our near neighbours for all their help last season. Blackpool will be hoping to build on this fantastic start to the league campaign when they play host to Preston Grasshoppers next week.

Team: 1. Mick Harrison 2. Chris Parlour 3. Dean Finegan 4. Stuart Charnock 5. Tristan Ainscough 6. Jamie Robertson 7. Louis Shelton 8. Daniel Komosinski 9. Luke Crosbie 10. Adam Glover 11. James Carty 12. Leon Mason 13. Paul Vuti 14. Antony Clark 15. Gordon Richmond

Replacements: 16. Russell Woodward 17. Niall Crane 18. Pete Wilkinson 19. Rob Dixon 20. Gareth Wing 21. Baz Tucker 22. Dave Donald

Tries: Carty, Clark, Crane, Glover, Komosinski, Robertson, Tucker, Vuti

Conversions: Mason 2/4 , Crosbie 1/1, Glover 1/3

Penalties: Mason 1/1