Fleet' show bouncebackability!

After a thorough warm up session and words of wisdom a plenty the home side made their intentions clear from the start, skipper Barnes marshalling his troops admirably. The first 10 minutes Fleet played aggressive high tempo rugby with good breaks from flyhalf Edwards, centre Greenwood and hooker Perkin. That said nothing was to show for all the early pressure until prop Jackson converted a penalty, Fleet 3-0 to the good. Territorial gains were coming courtesy of the boot of scrum half Gornall which was turning the Kirby defence. Despite the advantage Kirkby continued to make advances with some good running rugby, often thwarted by the back row trio of Barnes, Smith and Brocklehurst who were stealing ball at the breakdown. Chances were created for further points to be registered but that last pass was not coming to fruition for Fleet and it was their opponents who kicked a penalty just before half time to make it 3-3 at the break. The question was would Fleet rue the missed opportunities?

Kirkby perhaps sensed they had a chance to regain the lead as the referee awarded yet another penalty, which was converted 6-3 down. Although the home forwards and backs continued to press errors in defence allowed a try to be conceded with the extras added, 13-3 down. Were as in previous weeks heads had gone down, this was not the case today as Fleet dug deep, the Jones boys (not welsh) were both carrying well and good use of ‘pick and go’ tactics allowed flanker Barkworth to score a try from close range well supported by Barnes, conversion missed 13-8 down,. A further penalty kick from Jackson flew wide of the uprights, however the home side were now playing some excellent rugby with the pressure telling as Jackson crashed over for a try and conversion, Fleet now 15-13 up. With 10 minutes to play it was now ‘squeeky bum time’ for the home spectators as a penalty was conceded and converted, 16-15 down. Fleet did not panic, instead astute kicking from a penalty by Gornall rewarded a lineout on the Kirkby 22, the resulting attack was briefly repelled. The next move virtually sealed the game, Smith broke from the base of the scrum down the blindside and was stopped short. With Gornall recycling the ball it was shipped out to the impressive Holme who smashed through to score a try, conversion missed, 20-16 Fleet. Chances to extend the lead in the dying seconds went begging, but by now the victory was virtually in the bag. The referee blowed up and the home players roared with delight!

Overall a gritty team performance against a top of the league side proved to be an excellent result for Fleet. Everyone who pulled on a green and gold shirt made positive contributions to the victory, however the forwards as a unit showed up big style this week with stand out performances from Perkin, Holme and the evergreen Smith. Gornall was again consistent at scrum half and Edwards continues to impress at fly-half as does Jones at full back, but on balance it was prop Jackson who was nominated as the man of the match. Next week is a weather weekend, with Fleetwood’ next in action at home to Eccles 2’s a week on Saturday.

Report from Dan Jefferson