Sky High Tackling Tyldesley

Fleetwood didn't have the easiest of starts this week, with both the second and third team teams having away games during Storm Diana, finding players to fulfill their fixtures was not an easy task. The twos still looked to take a strong squad into their game at Tyldesley, unfortunately there were some call offs, which left numbers depleted.

Skipper Foden elected to kick the opposition to start the game and put the opposition on the back foot. This is where Fleetwood would have Tyldesley for the majority of the game. Only big tackles from the home side and deficiencies in the away sides attack stopped Fleetwood from advancing into the 22.

Tyldesley seemed content to just try and make the big hit over and over again and this was their downfall. As one of their lads tried to make a hit on Flanker Ryan Hargreaves, only to be bounced off by the young Fleetwood forward. Hargreaves then realizing that a gap had opened up, he sprinted through it to score. Conversion missed by Pearce.

Half Time: 0 v 5

The call at half time was to up the intensity, be more clinical and start getting points on the board to maintain the early dominance.

A blow was struck to Fleetwood when Fly Half Pearce went off with an injured hamstring. This led to a reshuffling and Manager Chris Travis dusting off his boots for "Ten Minutes". The first five of his ten were spent on the sidelines taping up his calves.

Fleetwood had the opportunity to increase their lead from a penalty. Stand in kicker Mike Jackson couldn't convert the three points unfortunately.

With that Tyldesley trying to stamp their authority on the game, starting turning their big hits into high tackles. The official did not blow up for everyone of them, nor did he give Tyldesley a warning before sending a man to the bin. Madness further ensued when a home player took a swipe at one of his own players, fortunately for him, everyone but the referee saw it.

Fleetwood then had another opportunity at the 3 points after a penalty was awarded in front of the sticks. With Skipper Foden at the bottom of a ruck, Hooker Pook without thinking things through elected to take the scrum instead as they were now uncontested. Pook's choice proved to be a poor one, as no score came from it.

The last couple of minutes was a blur of panic for Fleetwood, as Tyldesley took the ball deep into their half, desperately trying to score an undeserved winner. With Mark Evans being caught doing everything illegally possible in a ruck trying to win the ball back. Tyldesley elected to take their 5m penalty by running it in. Fleetwood turned over the contact and Scrum Half O'Driscoll kicked the ball clear to touch to end the game.

Full Time: 0 v 5

Tough, hard physical game in the end. Could have been different if Tyldesley had a different game plan other than just making the big rugby league style hits.

Scorers

Tries: Hargreaves.

Man of the Match

This week was a tough call. Evans marked his return with a crafty veteran performance and the back 3 of Birks, Kirkbride and Hearne all looked like they might have cracked the defense. But this week the award goes to Prop Ethan O'Hara who tirelessly took the ball into contact and relished the big hits on him.

The Weekly Sam Pook Report

Sam this week spat his dummy out a little bit over this section of the report. But at the same time we all know that he loves the attention. Something wasn't working in the line this week, not sure if it's his fault. But he needs to play more consistently, in terms of number of games and performances to really improve. Definite "D.O.D." candidate over the penalty debacle.

Next Week

Next Week Fleetwood host Leigh at Melbourne Avenue, 2.15pm KO.

Squad: 15. Hearne; 14. Kirkbride; 13. Hall; 12. Crompton; 11. Birks; 10. Pearce; 9. O'Driscoll; 1. O'Hara; 2. Pook; 3. Foden; 4. Gregson; 5. Evans; 6. Gornall; 7. Hargreaves; 8. Jackson; 16. Travis.