FYLDE RFC PREVIEW
This weekend sees the visit of Fylde RFC on our Ladies Day, in a game that still holds relevance for both sides.
Fylde RFC still have everything to play for as the season moves to close, with three games left, as they currently occupy 15th place in the league, with 54 points. Although only 2 clubs 'make the drop' this season, with Macclesfield RFC now relegated, both Hull Ionians RFC (44 points) and Blaydon RFC (41 points) still mathematically have a chance of overhauling Fylde RFC in the run in.
The top points scorer for Fylde RFC is fly half Gregory Smith with 162 points to date and their top try scorer is centre Chris Briers with 12 tries.
Last weekend Fylde RFC lost at home to Old Albanians RFC in a close encounter (17 - 21). For the record, they have recorded 9 wins (accumulating 14 try bonus points and 4 losing bonus points) with 18 losses.
One of those wins came courtesy of a closely fought victory over DMPRFC in early November 2016, when registering a 31 - 25 result. Tries from Frankland, Barnard and Seals that day were not quite enough to overcome Fylde on their home turf.
Historically since DMPRFC entered National League One, DMPRFC have recorded the following results against our visitors:
2015/16 - Fylde RFC 12 v DMPRFC 21
DMPRFC 40 v Fylde RFC 14
2014/15 - DMPRFC 29 v Fylde RFC 29
Fylde RFC 10 v DMPRFC 33
Last weekend, it appears as though DMPRFC found difficulty 'getting off the bus', when down 33 - 0 at oranges against Esher RFC. A second half revival saw DMPRFC match their opponents first half score of 33 points, however, Esher RFC sneaked in another 17 points (50 - 33) to take the honours down at their Molesey Road HQ.
A bus 'break down' on the return trip North added insult to injury, summing up a bad day at the office.
Like DMPRFC, Fylde RFC are currently experiencing a poor run of form, with our visitors having lost their last 4 games, to DMPRFC's 3 games and therefore all is set for both to grasp the opportunity for a win for different reasons.
For Fylde RFC to cement their National League One status and for DMPRFC to accumulate more points in what has on occasions been a very good season of underlining a 'mid-table' finish.