Having not played Fylde before it was difficult to know what to expect but to come up against a club which had spawned the likes of Bill Beaumont, Roger Uttley and Wade Dooley to name but a few did cause a few flutters in the hearts of the older travelling supporters!

Didsbury kicked off and although Fylde gathered the ball the chasing Didsbury forwards put them under pressure. Fylde tried to drive forward but pressure from Didsbury pinned them in their own 22. Didsbury got turnover ball and with Molloy, Perrie, Kennedy and Andrews to the fore attacked the Fylde line. Didsbury eventually lost the ball but although Fylde gained possession their ball carrier was finally bundled into touch 10m from their own line.
A slick set move from the Didsbury lineout saw Molloy on a blind-side move thrust for the line. Although stopped just short, the ball found its way back to Andrews who seemed to have scored one of his trademark tries from close range. Alas no! The try was disallowed for a double movement.
From the resulting penalty Fylde cleared the ball a good 30m from their line.
From the lineout Fylde quickly spun the ball out to their backs who used their pace to advance up to the halfway line. A great pass set the Fylde full-back free and he outpaced the Didsbury defence to score an excellent try.
The try was not converted. Didsbury 0 Fylde 5.
For those of us who have been following the side this looked familiar – lots of pressure from Didsbury but undone by incisive back play from the opposition.
Didsbury restarted and were immediately on the attack, with a mistake by Fylde giving them an attacking lineout. Didsbury won the lineout and Quinn and Langslow drove deep into the Fylde half before the ball was released to the backs. Encroachment by the Fylde backs gave Didsbury a penalty and Grogan slotted the ball between the posts for Didsbury’s first score.
Didsbury 3 Fylde 5.
Fylde restarted but Didsbury failed to gather the ball cleanly so it was a first scrum to Fylde. Fylde won the ball and their number 8 picked up, He was stopped by Camilleri and Perrie but conceded a penalty for not releasing the ball. This gave Grogan a chance to clear the ball up to the half-way line. Didsbury won the lineout and went on the attack again. However, Fylde were resolute in defence and managed to steal the ball. Their number 10 put a kick deep into the Didsbury half but it was gathered by the Didsbury full-back, North, who cleared to the half-way line.
Although Fylde won the lineout, good pressure from Didsbury meant that it was scrappy ball for their backs.
Both sets of forwards tried to compete for the advantage before a knock on gave Didsbury a scrum. However, Fylde were penalised for pushing too early. The penalty was quickly taken by Andrews who found Bolton in support. Kennedy, Quinn and Walsh continued the forward momentum and the ball retention by Didsbury was good. Merrick eventually fed Grogan who chipped the ball behind the Fylde backs. Although it was gathered by the Fylde full-back he was caught by the chasing Didsbury forwards who stole the ball and drove for the line. Another penalty for offside gave Grogan a chance to give Didsbury the lead. He calmly struck the ball over the upright for another 3 points.
Didsbury 6 Fylde 5.
A good take from Perrie from the restart saw Didsbury on the attack again. Fylde marshalled their defence and eventually gained a lineout near the halfway line. From here another slick back move saw them propel themselves deep into Didsbury territory. A dart by the Fylde number 9 took him to within 10m of the Didsbury line. Despite strong defence by Didsbury, Fylde retained possession and their scrum half scored near the posts.
A successful conversion added another 2 points.
Didsbury 6 Fylde 12.
From the restart Didsbury again put the pressure on Fylde and strong tackling by Davenport-Jenkins, Grogan and Andrews kept Fylde in their own 22. From a scrum Andrews and Merrick linked up to drive close to the Fylde line. The charge was taken up by Kennedy, Molloy and Langslow who moved Didsbury to within 10 metres of the Fylde line.
Didsbury were awarded a penalty and eschewing the kick at goal they opted to run the ball. Perrie charged to within 5m of the line but the ball was knocked on. Fylde managed to clear the ball up field but it was safely gathered by North at full back who linked up with his fellow backs to go on the attack again. Fylde won a turnover ball and were back on the attack again. Good tackling by the Didsbury backs, particularly Bolton, restricted Fylde’s progress. The game now ebbed and flowed as both sides took turns at attacking.
A pulsating first half ended with the score Didsbury 6 Fylde 12.
Fylde started the second half in determined mood and despite good tackling from Kennedy and Bolton they were soon within 5m of the Didsbury line. A great tackle by Shearer on the Fylde scrum half resulted in turnover ball which allowed Grogan to alleviate some pressure. Fylde, however, kept up the momentum which was only relieved when Didsbury were awarded a penalty and Grogan made a good touch kick.
With the pressure off for a short time, Merrick was able to bring the Didsbury backs into play with Bolton and Taylor having good runs.
Another penalty to Didsbury for the Fylde backs being offside allowed Grogan to push Didsbury up to the Fylde 22. With Andrews dominant in the lineout Didsbury won the ball and set up another driving maul. Molloy got to within 5m of the line before the ball was spun out to the backs. Taylor took it to within 2m before he was stopped. Another penalty to Didsbury was quickly taken by Andrews but he was again stopped just short of the line. Yet another penalty to Didsbury saw Molloy strive to score but the Fylde defence held and they were rewarded with a scrum after a Didsbury knock-on. From this they managed to clear the ball up to the half way line.
It was now Fylde’s turn to attack but a dropped ball in the centre gave a scrum to Didsbury from which Maxwell and Ballantine made good ground before losing the ball to Fylde. Bringing their backs into play again Fylde pressed towards the Didsbury line. Only tackles by Mullen, Taylor and Ballantine halted Fylde’s progress. Didsbury conceded a penalty for being offside and the tall Fylde second row made a determined drive for the line only to be stopped 5m short. Smart work by Perrie gave Didsbury a turnover ball to help relieve some pressure.
As Didsbury advanced up the field the Fylde backs were caught offside yet again and from the resulting penalty Grogan found an excellent touch to give Didsbury a lineout on the halfway. Andrews won the lineout and the Didsbury forwards drove 20m into the Fylde half. Another penalty to Didsbury for offside allowed Grogan to push Fylde back to 10m from their own line. Didsbury won the lineout and charged for the line. Despite desperate defence, scrum-half Merrick burrowed his way over for a try. Grogan was successful with the conversion.
Didsbury 13 Fylde 12
An excellent catch from the restart by Kennedy set up another Didsbury attack. Another driving maul saw Didsbury move deeper into the Fylde half. Grogan chipped behind the Fylde defence and although they recovered the chasing Ballantine, Tennant and Mullen stopped the Fylde player 10m from his line. Didsbury were awarded a penalty for holding on and Perrie powered to within 5m of the line. Molloy joined the fray but was stopped 1m short, Andrews gathered the ball and forced himself over for a try. Joy in the Didsbury ranks as they now led 18-12! Grogan, calmness personified, converted the try.
Didsbury 20 Fylde 12.
From the restart Didsbury ran the ball with Merrick feeding Bolton in the centre. Unfortunately the ball was lost and it was quickly passed out to the Fylde backs who attacked at pace. A neat move by their winger saw him cut inside and evading the Didsbury defence he scored under the posts. The try was converted.
Didsbury 20 Fylde 19.
Could the crowd, let alone the players take any more excitement? Fylde were buoyed by their score and sensed that, with time running out, any sort of score would see them home. The Didsbury captain rallied his troops for what was sure to be a nail-biting finish.
Didsbury restarted and the kick was well followed up by the Didsbury pack but they conceded a free kick which Fylde took quickly and they were back on the attack again. A penalty to Fylde for offside allowed them to clear the ball up the Didsbury 22. From here they launched wave after wave of attack inching steadily closer to the Didsbury line. However, magnificent defence by Didsbury denied Fylde a further score and the match ended with Didsbury winning by the narrowest of margins. It was, as the Duke of Wellington allegedly said, “A damn close run thing.”
In the end Didsbury’s forward power, lineout possession and tackling in defence told. Fylde probably did not get enough ball to their strong back line and will no doubt rue the number of penalties they gave away.
This was a fantastic game of rugby and a credit to both teams who played the match in the true spirit of rugby. At times it was end to end stuff with several heart-stopping moments for both sets of supporters.

Man of the Match (as judged by the Lancs. RFU) Andrews the Didsbury captain.

Match details

Match date

Sun 10 Apr 2011

Kickoff

14:45

Team overview