Seconds on song

One such kick from the visitors found winger Bobby Jones who linked with Michael Dewhirst and Lee jones who fed full-back Jim Haigh who drew his defender to put Jacob Lloyd in for a try in the corner after 10 mins. Dewhirst hit the crossbar with the conversion attempt. Fleetwood then made some defensive errors allowing Kirkby back into the game. Jones then had a chance to increase the lead with a kick and chase for the line only to see the ball go over the dead-ball line. Soon after an uncharacteristic tackle by Dewhirst was followed by turnover ball by the forwards enabling scrum-half Danny Tomlinson to dummy and dive over for a try. Dewhirst coverted, 12-0 Fleetwood.
Following this Fleetwood lapsed and a missed tackle in the centre allowed Kirkby to put together a good passage of play and a try in the corner, well converted.
Fleetwood took the initiative back when Dewhirst chipped ahead for Lloyd to chase. Fleetwood stole the line-out, Mark Wilkinson drove forward and prop Mike Burrows crashed over for the try. Fleetwood were beginning to dominate the game by now and it wasn’t long before Tomlinson sneaked over for his second score following good work from the old guard combination of Mark Wilkinson, Lee Jones and the excellent Andy Singleton.

Once again the home defence was tested and Kirkby put together a good move to score another converted try to bring the score to 27-14 just before half-time although Fleetwood could have extended their lead following a blind-side break from Singleton.

2nd half-
The half started slowly with tackles going in too high. Dewhirst attepted a drop goal but missed narrowly.
Lock James Cameron secured good line-out ball which was transferred through the backs where Singleton was on hand to feed skipper Ricky Newton for an excellent team try.
Soon after a similar situation saw Cameron take line out ball which was once again moved wide only for the fial pass to go astray when a try seemed certain for the winger who had just come on as a replacement.
Fleetwood made further changes with Perkes coming on as flanker, Kyle Bedford in the second row and young Joel Cheetham at scrum half. In fact after good work again by the forwards Cheetham dived over for his first try in a senior game.
From a scrum Ricky Newton picked a good line to charge for the line with the ver-present Singleton on his shoulder to score a well-deserved try.
Fleetwood had the last word with a well-worked try by skipper Newton following strong running by Jim Haigh and Kyle Bedford.
Final score 51-14

Match report by Ian Cameron