Match Preview

This is our 23rd match with Fylde making 22 league matches and one National cup match. Hull Ionians have won 8, Fylde 13 and one drawn, with Hull Ionians winning the last three.
The teams first played each other in 2005/6, Hull Ionians winning the home game 25-24 and drawing an entertaining away game 35 all. The match reports are interesting for the names of those involved:
At Brantingham Park Hull Ionians tenacity brought them victory in injury time against Fylde in a match that they looked to be comfortably winning with a 15-0 lead in the first quarter. Fylde used the power of their pack and repetitive cross kicks to get back into the game and take a 24-22 lead after 67 minutes. But Is found another gear to set up an injury time penalty goal under the posts. Is made an excellent start with the wind at their backs and used it well to keep Fylde playing from deep. After just 7 minutes Nick Cooper landed a penalty from 50 metres out. Four minutes later Steve Prescott and Greg Bone combined and exchanged passes to end with Steve Prescott diving in for a try converted from the touch line by Nick Cooper. Straight from the kick-off the pack won the ball and Glenn Boyd kicked deep to force a 5 metre scrum. Derek Eaves took full advantage and broke through for a try. Fylde slowly came into the game and in their first attack on 24 minutes earned a penalty for Mike Scott. Is miss kicked under pressure and centre Mark Evans was given a gift of a run in for a try. To close the half a drive was held but then moving the ball wide saw Steve Prescott cross again, Nick Cooper adding the goal to lead 22-8 at the break. Fylde came out far more positively in the second half and Is errors gifted two simple penalties to Mike Scott. Fylde fullback Richard Kenyon was then allowed to run right through the field before chipping ahead for replacement wing Paul Green to juggle the ball over the line for a try, Mike Scott's conversion bringing them within a point with 20 minutes to play. On 67 minutes Fylde had an attacking 5 metre scrum which Is defended well to deny the push over try, but loose binding conceded a penalty kicked by Mike Scott to take the lead. Is stepped up another gear determined not to end their winning run. Greg Bone broke tackles to make a 60 metre run and just be caught at the corner, but kept the ball alive. Play moved infield and offside stopped the attack in front of the posts where Nick Cooper kicked the winning goal before a tense finale.
An enthralling match at Fylde ended as a 35 all draw, the home team having scored 4 tries on the right wing by Nick Royle while Is scored 5. Fylde led 14-10 at the break, then 3 penalty goals, two home tries and 4 Is tries produced 46 points after the break.
Is opened the scoring with Richard Poskitt clear out wide then a Fylde counter attack put Nick Royle in space to race home under the posts, Mike Scott converting. A quick penalty saw Fylde obstruct and bring the kick within range for Glenn Boyd to add the penalty to his conversion and retake the lead, but to close the half Fylde recycled the ball wide for Nick Royle to cross again, Scott converting.
Fylde opened the second half with wave attacks that Is defended well without conceding penalties, then stole the ball and broke clear. Penalties gained even more ground and quick ball saw Glenn Boyd through for a try. Fylde then scored immediately from the next 3 kick-offs as all the bounce went their way. Mike Scott struck two goals, then the next kick-off failed to go 10 metres into the wind and straight from the scrum Mike Scott kicked to the corner allowing Nick Royle to complete his hat trick. Is recovered and came straight back and Glenn Boyd and Steve Prescott combined to send Richard Poskitt over for a try, Glen Boyd adding the goal then a penalty under the posts. With 5 minutes of normal time remaining both sides scored twice more. Fylde swooped in to send Nick Royle in again, Mick Scott converting to lead 32-25. Is came straight back and a quick penalty saw Ben Smith use his pace and power to beat 3 men and score in the corner. Running the ball off their own line straight from the kick-off saw errors gift Mike Scott 3 points. Straight from the next kick-off Is kept the ball alive again, running a penalty from their own 22, from which Glenn Boyd made ground, then running the next penalty from under the posts, keeping the ball alive to see Mick Watson driving through two tacklers to score the try in the corner that levelled the match on the final whistle – a breathless finish for everyone!