Fylde have been drawn at fellow National Three (North) rivals Hull Ionians in the 2nd round of the EDF National Trophy on Saturday 22nd November. This will be the six successive away match for the Woodlands club.

In 2006/7 Fylde travelled to Hull RFC & then Beverley. In 2007/8 they went south to Old Northamptonians and then north to Tyneside to face Westow. This season Fylde beat Hereford and for their trouble now go back to Hull.

Club officials are so used to away games that they now anticipate this fate each time the draw is announced.

If there isn't much excitement at the thought of making a round trip of 250 miles to play a team in the same league then Fylde players, officials and supporters had better get used to it. One week later they make the same trip to play the league match between the two clubs.

It could be worse, believe it or not. Macclesfield have been drawn at National Three (South) club Chinnor. The Oxford based outfit has been allocated to the North & Midlands half of the draw in order to balance up the number of clubs.