The seconds were fully aware that their trip to The Woodlands Memorial Ground would be a pretty stiff examination and the pundits were proved correct early on in the encounter at Ansdell. In the space of sixteen minutes the hosts, courtesy of their razor sharp back division, had rattled up nineteen points as some unconvincing Vale tackling allowed Fylde an easy pathway to the whitewash. Three tries were rattled in, two of which were converted in an awful opening for the Vale.
Vale made adjustments to their back division after the early onslaught, their game visibly tightened up with the pack emerging as a solid unit that went toe to toe with their opposite numbers.
A degree of parity was achieved until the closing stages of the half when Fylde added to their total with an unconverted try and in extra time they plundered two converted tries.
Throughout the first half Fylde had mercilessly exploited Vale’s vulnerability in their back division leaving the visitors a huge mountain climb in the second half.
In the forty third minute Fylde eased further ahead with a converted try but in the fifty fourth minute the Vale avoided returning home pointless when following a passage of mauling rugby brought its reward when Olli Cowey grounded the ball for an unconverted try.
Normal service was resumed for Fylde who again sliced through the defence with unconverted tries, one coming from a prop who set off on a thirty metre run for his score; something there to tell the grandchildren about.
However, the Vale had the last word when Callum Kyle paved the way for a consolation five pointer for Jamie Antcliffe.
It had been a most credible performance from Vale’s forwards with important contributions coming from Matt Field, Callum Kyle and Petar Aleksov. In the backs Jamie Antcliffe was a steadying influence at stand-off in a game where the Vale struggled to tame the fleet footed Fylde backs.
Thanks to Reg Robinson for his notes.