Hoppers put up a brave fight but ultimately went down to a dangerous Fylde side that ran away with an exciting contest at the Woodlands. Fylde unleashed the icon that is Jason Robinson on National League rugby in front of a packed crowd and the former England star showed glimpses of the kind of rugby Fylde are paying.
The weather tried to help out the visitors as a huge downpour half an hour before kickoff made early conditions a little tricky but both teams handled them well. However, Hoppers were starved of the ball for the majority of the match and put in a huge effort in defence but the star quality of Fylde came into its own in the last 15 minutes.
Fylde started well and completely dominated the opening 20 minutes, their forwards were able to recycle the ball quickly and the backs looked sharp from the start. They took the lead from the boot of Mike Waywell and finally broke the determined Hoppers defence after 13 minutes, the forwards executed a punishing catch and drive deep into the 22 and while Hoppers were able to stop the first backs move the ball was moved back quickly and winger Oli Brennand had too much pace for the scrambling defence.
Hoppers started to get into the game after the try and got on the board with a Mark Edwards penalty, but the gap was soon back to eight points when Waywell added his second.
The referee then made his first substantial impact into the game as he reduced both teams to 14 men in a matter of minutes. Hoppers Mark Irving was first to go and he was followed by his opposite number Pete Altham.
On the stroke of half time Hoppers dragged themselves back into the game as a well weighted kick through by Edwards was touched down by Tom Ashton by the post, Edwards added the simple conversion and for all their superiority Fylde had just a one point lead at the half.
If Robinson had been quiet through the first half he showed his class in the second, in the first minute he jinked and weaved past three players before setting off down the left wing, he was well supported by Brennand whose ball back on the inside put Craig Aikman over to score just 40 seconds into the half.
Hoppers were able to answer back quickly with a try Tom Hughes will remember for a lifetime. After a solid catch and drive Hoppers unleashed a scything backs move with Edwards finding Hughes who cut a great line and sprinted past Robinson leaving the England man in his wake.
Fylde then took charge of the game and unleashed some scintillating backs moves to score 30 unanswered points in the final half hour. As good as Fylde were they officiating took a downward turn with some extraordinary decisions and non decisions. Fylde lock Grant Ferguson somehow got away with a knee to the head and after Fylde were awarded a scrum in the 22 Richard Kenyon looked to have been held up over the line but the touch judge over-ruled the referee, who had signalled held up, to award the try.
The hosts were reduced to 14 men for the final 20 minutes as Altham was shown his second yellow but it did not slow them down. Waywell added two more penalties to stretch the lead to 31-17 and the referee evened up the number by showing substitute Mike Millward a yellow card.
Fylde scored three tries in the final five minutes, first Waywell was able to squeeze into the right corner and Kenyon was able to grab his second after good work from Robinson and Nick Royle. Then the other high profile newcomer Paul Arnold touched down following a well weighted kick from man of the match Kenyon.
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