It was the visitors who started on the front foot, some quick thinking from Hoppers Sam Kyle-Clay caught the Fylde line off-guard and snuck in behind them to go over.

Sam Freeman converted to extend the lead to 7.

Fylde responded well and made the most of Hoppers man disadvantage when Freeman was shown a yellow, James Sutfcliffe scoring from the resulting penalty.

Danny Cassidy was unable to level the game, missing the conversion.

Hoppers made sure that was the last real joy the Fylde fans could have.

Dan Orwin’s side forced a turnover on the kick off and from the line-out Kyle-Clay doubled his try tally for the afternoon. Josh Ree’s conversion was just wide meaning the visitors lead 12-5 at the half.

Fylde probably should’ve levelled the game up to start the 2nd period but some resolute Hoppers defending kept the hosts out.

They then turned defence to attack, a free-flowing move, culminated in winger Jacob Browne leaving the Fylde defenders in the dust to score.

It was 10 minutes later when Browne also got his brace, a bulldozing run from Mark Jennings to break free before he set Browne off to use his pace once against to give the visitors a commanding lead. Freeman converted both tries to make the score 26-5.

Hoppers weren’t done there though. They cut through the Fylde line with ease, using an advantage well after Ree was struck high, with the ball ending in the hands of Declan Norrington to go over.

Freeman’s conversion struck the upright, but Hoppers were well out of sight.

Theo Hulbert added a late consolation try for the hosts which Cassidy converted but it was too little too late, the final score Hoppers 31-12 Fylde.

Hoppers head coach Dan Orwin expressed how ‘proud’ he was of his players but echoed the sentiment that days like Saturday can’t be a one-off.

Read the brilliant coverage of the match in Talking Rugby Union