Cicognini in at the double for eager Dale

Fylde………………… 7pts Wharfedale….. 24pts

By STUART McCRACKEN

National 2 North

WHARFEDALE returned to action with a massive win away to in-form Fylde thanks to a brace of tries by Oliver Cicognini.

The visitors hadn't played in over a month, but led 7-0 at the break thanks to a Cicognini effort, before high-flying Fylde responded after the interval through Valu-Tane Bentley.

It wasn't to be for Fylde on the day, as Dale ran in two late tries through Robert Baldwin and Cicognini to take all four points back over the Pennines with them.

The hosts were punished for their lack of accuracy early on when the visiting Dale went down the other end and scored through centre Cicogonini, who dived on a chipped kick from Louis Verity.

Scrum-half Sam Gaudie converted the opening score.

It was a tale of missed opportunities for Fylde in the remainder of the opening 40 minutes, compounded by Toby Harrison's sin-binning for multiple offences.

Wharfedale's resolve was finally broken in the 58th minute when Valu-Tane Bentley crossed for Fylde from a scrum drive, following a sin-bin for Dale's Robert Baldwin. Greg Smith nailed the conversion to draw the teams level.

RP Big celebrations as Oliver Cicognini seals it for Wharfedale, RP Sam Gaudie kicked 100% of his efforts for Wharfedale

PICTURES: Mike Inkley

It was the sin-binned Baldwin that ended up getting the next try after serving his ten minutes in the bin.

The number eight powered over from short range following sustained pressure from Dale. Gaudie made no mistake from the tee to extend Dale's lead back to seven.

Three minutes later the visitors' lead was increased through another superb penalty kick by Gaudie, before Cicognini wrapped up the win for

Dale with his second try late on. Skipping inside to beat his man and go over. Gaudie nailed the conversion to end the day with a 100 per cent record from the tee.

Wharfedale Director of Rugby Simon Verbickas believes his side's work ethic was key to their success in the North-West.

He said: “We had spoken all week about how defence is going to win the game today.

“It was always going to be down to grit, deter mination, the willingness to make a tackle, get back to your feet and make a tackle, because Fylde are a brilliant side.

“I think we just got around the park a little bit more than Fylde did and we were back to our feet a little bit quicker.

“Maybe the two tough games that they've had benefited us.

“They've won five on the bounce, so to come here and to win away at Fylde with the scoreline I'm really proud of the lads, really proud.”