Fleetwood’s answer to the Last of the Summer wine gang, Andy Thompson, Kevin Knott, John Large and Steve Doherty set about planning how to give Fleetwood an edge. Firstly, our match secretary Kevin managed to secure an exchange referee from France and informed him that the Fylde team had lots of players who have played for England age group and other representative teams. A small hamper containing red wine, croissants au chocolat, with a few roll mop herrings and buckies was left in the referee’s changing room with a note reminding him that Fleetwood played in green, attached to a 50 euro note. We then had to come up with a plan to deprive Fylde of their most influential player from the previous game, Dave Fairbrother. As John Large is a retired Royal Navy Officer he called in a favour from a friend in Plymouth. On Saturday morning a few hours before kick off Royal Marine Fairbrother was heading down to Plymouth to report for duty.
So the scene was set for kick off with the odds (we hoped) stacked in Fleetwood’s favour.

As usual the Woodlands pitch was immaculate and the early spring like conditions conducive to running rugby. Fylde began well, running the ball at every opportunity. The loss of Fairbrother didn’t seem to affect them as they soon built up a 12-0 lead in the first quarter. They could have been further ahead but for a couple of marginal forward pass decisions being called by the referee. Fleetwood gradually clawed their way back into the game. Strong running by Chris Jones and Mike Kelly got them into the Fylde 22 and then a great line by George Orry saw him go over under the posts. Tom Evans converted. Just before half time an interception by Kris Phillips put the winger in under the posts for another converted try to give Fleetwood a slender 12-14 lead.

Fylde came out for the second half with all guns blazing. Their big, well organised pack soon made yards with a pick and go technique that Fleetwood found had to stop. From a line out 30metres from the Fleetwood line they first mauled to 10 metres and then forced their way over for a try wide out. The conversion was missed but they regained the lead 17-14. Fleetwood soon hit back. A scything break by Tom Evans put Karl Bowling in to the right hand corner. A superb touchline kick almost extended the lead but it came back off the post. 17-19. Game on. With time running out Fylde finally unleashed their backs who scored a superb try under the posts. 24-19. Fleetwood knew it was now or never. Their forwards managed some momentum and Fylde were forced to give ground and a succession of penalties the last of which was 10 metres out in front of the posts. A quick thinking Tom Evans took advantage of the referee telling the Fylde captain to cut out the penalties, and kicked to the right hand touchline where Ricky Newton was having a breather from the ruck 2 minutes before. With nobody near him he dotted the ball down in the corner, much to Tom Evans disgust making the potential winning conversion even more difficult. The conversion was just wide so the scores were level with just stoppage time remaining.
This seems to be the moment fate took a hand. From the kick off Fylde were penalised for being in front of the kicker. This enabled Fleetwood to gain territory into the Fylde 22. A knock on by Fleetwood gave Fylde a scrum 10 metres from their own line. Having dominated the set piece all day the referee inexplicably gave a penalty against them. Quick as a flash Fleetwood’s scrum half had taken the penalty and scored under the posts before the Fylde forwards knew what had happened. Should the referee have allowed a quick tap? Was it from the mark? Who knows? However the score stands and Fleetwood have a famous victory.

The recriminations went on for hours. The older Fylde players were trying to remember where they had seen the Fleetwood scrum half before. Eventually they came up with the answer. He was that annoying little B****r who captained Wharfedale! Mrs Fairbrother was furious to have travelled from Fleetwood to Ansdell to find that Dave had been sent on a wild goose chase. Alan Townsend was on free beer all night as he recounted the day he went on a Fleetwood coach to watch England v Wales at Twickenham when Dave Leslie was refereeing. He was late back to the coach and we had left him to make his own way home…and consumed all the food and drink in the hamper he had brought. Roger Banks had a foot in both camps but was secretly pleased that both teams now go through to the main ADM competition.

Report by Steve Doherty