Mowden Park 66-22 Fylde Rugby

After the highs of the Hartpury performance at home and lows of the follow up away defeat at Esher, DMPRFC were back 'up for it' and overwhelmed Fylde RFC at the Northern Echo Arena, scoring 10 tries and which included a 30-point contribution from fly half Garry Law.

Enforced changes in the pack due to injuries to prop Jack Payne and lock Dave Fisher, as well as the absence of flanker Simon Uzokwe who was included in the England Students team playing their Irish counterparts, meant that prop Darren Fearn, lock Joshua Williams and No. 8 Brandon Staples occupied their positions and all contributed well.

Fylde RFC arrived at the Arena with a nervous aura about them, reflecting their current uncertainty for next season, as being 4th from bottom of National League One, appear to be in 'free fall', with Hull Ionians RFC and Blaydon RFC rallying somewhat, in their battle for survival.

In fact, Blaydon RFC secured a tremendous 5-point away win in a high scoring thriller at Cambridge RFC (40 - 43) and a spectacular 4-point haul for Hull Ionian's RFC at Blackheath RFC (29 - 30), piling the pressure on a beleaguered Fylde RFC.

Fylde RFC are still 9 points ahead of Blaydon RFC, but with a maximum of 10 league points on offer in the last two games, as can be seen with the above results, anything is possible.

An unenviable situation for those clubs engaged in that dogfight and who ever joins Macclesfield RFC in the drop, all at DMPRFC wish them a speedy return.

So back to the action at the Arena and it was Fylde RFC who were first to record points on the scoreboard, when in the first minute, DMPRFC infringed at a ruck just outside their own 22-metre line in front of the posts. Visiting fly half Gregory Smith duly obliged and Fylde took an early lead (0 - 3)

DMPRFC quickly asserted themselves on the game and before 5 minutes had elapsed, recorded the first of their 10 tries, when returning prop Darren FEARN stretched out a big arm to dot down over the line, after good momentum was gained via a 5-metre catch and drive lineout. (5 - 3)

Fly half Garry LAW added the extras from wide out (7 - 3) in what was to be one of his best performances in a Mowden shirt following his return from serious injury.

In fact, it was LAW himself who recorded Mowden's second try, when supporting a trademark break from winger Adam RADWAN, who offloaded well to LAW when being caught by a covering defender, allowing LAW to carry on the run to the try line (12 - 3).

Not to be outdone, RADWAN secured the ball in open play and his pure speed took him through 2 defenders on his way to the whitewash, for the first of his brace of tries (17 - 3), LAW converting (19 - 3)

It was all Mowden at this stage, but as the game entered the second quarter, Fylde fought back when some poor defending allowed No. 8 Matt Lamprey to barge through and over for Fylde's first try (19 - 8).

The try bonus point arrived just before oranges, when industrious centre Ben FRANKLAND pierced the visiting defence after some good inter-passing between the Mowden forwards and backs in the build up (24 - 8), LAW again converting (26 - 8).

On resumption of play after the interval, Mowden picked up where they left off.

A fine break by Mowden's promising hooker Chris WOOD, took him deep into Fylde territory, but a 'soft hands' offload in the tackle to front row colleague Ralph APPLEBY, allowed the prop to glide over the line for a score near the posts (31 - 8), LAW converting one of the easiest of his six conversions on the day.(33 - 8)

A lapse in concentration after the score allowed Fylde an opportunity, which they fully exploited, when winger Scott Armstrong rounded the home defence to score (31 - 13), SMITH converting well from wide out (33 - 15)

Mowden then hit a 'purple patch' scoring 4 tries without reply in the next 10 minutes.

RADWAN scored his second try after some excellent ground made up by replacement Rory DUFF, who took the ball fully 20 metres before offloading to the winger, who as usual made no mistake (38 - 15), taking his tally to 16 tries for the season and into 4th place in the leagues try standings.

Powerful centre replacement James FITZPATRICK used his strength to break through a tackle on Fylde's 5-metre line on his way to add Mowden's seventh try (43 - 15) and with LAW converting, the floodgates were in danger of being well and truly opened. (45 - 15)

Garry LAW followed this up, when FITZPATRICK broke through in centre field from the half way line and despite attempts to tackle him, stayed on his feet to offload to a grateful LAW who glided in for his brace (50 - 15), recovering his composure to add another conversion (52 - 15).

LAW completed his hat-trick of tries after less than five minutes seeing a gap which he exploited to the full, dotting down under the posts (57 - 15). The successful conversion of his own try (59 - 15) heralded a welcome rest and brought the end to his game for the day as he exited the field to a standing ovation from the appreciative crowd in attendance.

Replacement back Joel GILL's strength and persistence added Mowden's tenth and final try (64 - 15), BRAGMAN converting (66 - 15).

It perhaps should have been more, as Fylde's broken young troops seemed powerless to stop further incursions towards their line, but a series of dropped balls and some frustration colluded to rob Mowden of a sizeable score, but it was to the credit of the visitors that they rallied at the end, scoring a consolation try via stalwart winger Ollie Brennand (66 - 20), converted by Smith (66 - 22).

STATISTICS
Tries: FEARN (6), LAW (9, 60, 65), RADWAN (15, 53), FRANKLAND (35), APPLEBY (44), FITZPATRICK (57), GILL (67)
Conversions: LAW (6, 15, 35, 44, 57, 60, 65), BRAGMAN (68)
Pens: None
Drop Goals: None

STASTICS – FYLDE RFC
Tries: LAMPREY (23), ARMSTRONG (47), BRENNAND (74)
Conversions: SMITH (47, 74)
Pens: SMITH (1)
Drop Goals: None

Attendance: 823
Referee: Mr Matt Turvey
Man of the Match: Garry LAW (DMPRFC)
Half time: 26 - 8