A SOUTH African back-row forward and a former rugby league ace are to boost Fylde's squad ahead of their weekend Powergen Cup game at Whitchurch.

Michael Vermaak, 24, a 6ft 3in, 16st flanker/No 8 was recommended by former Fylde favourite, Morn Loxton, who plays alongside hi,m or the Free State Cheetahs.

Vermaak is a former member of the SARFU academy in 2000 and has been a member of the Springboks international sevens squad.

Martin Gambles made his debut as a replacement in Saturday's defeat at Cleckheaton after a spell in rugby league.

The 23-year-old has played for Wigan Juniors, Salford City, Gateshead Thunder and, most recently, Chorley Lynx, who he captained in what is likely to be their last ever game on Sunday.

He has also played union for Orrell.

Fylde Coach Stuart Connell, who persuaded Vermaak to come to the Woodlands, said: "Michael is very keen to make his name in English rugby.

"He's an aggressive, ball carrying backrower with the kind of pace and handling skills that are essential to reach South African State and representative rugby levels. He's a major addition to our squad and we're really looking forward to welcoming him to the Woodlands. He'll be training with us on Tuesday evening."

The club has appointed fly-half Mike Scott as captain for next season. Scott, who has also captained Cumbria, skippered the side several times last season.

Fylde went down 19-17 at Cleckheaton on Saturday having learned little from their error strewn but winning performance against Macclesfield, during which they conceded too many unnecessary penalties and turnover ball.

It couldn't have been a better start for the visitors who were playing into a strong diagonal wind as they controlled possession. On four minutes full back Martin Wallwork turned up at the end of the movement and pirouetted in very little space to touch the ball down in the very left corner.

Mike Scott missed the difficult touchline conversion directly into the wind. However, further Fylde pressure on 20 minutes led to a penalty which he converted.

Things then went gradually downhill. They began to spill ball and give away turnover ball. Quentin King, making his Fylde debut at openside flanker, tackled furiously all over the pitch but ran foul of the different rule interpretation by referees in New Zealand and England.

"Back home the referees are more lenient when you're on your feet and trying to get possession on the ground," he said afterwards.

Cleckheaton's accomplished full back, Glenn Boyd, kicking with the benefit of the wind, Boyd converted successful penalties in the 24th, 27th and 36th minutes to give his side a 9-8 lead.

On 50 minutes Boyd kicked another penalty, nullified by Scott five minutes later. With Fylde only trailing by 11-12 the league points were still there for the taking. But one of the two decisive moments of the half saw a sustained Cleckheaton attack on 57 minutes and their mobile No 8 Akroyd forced his way over the try line Boyd converted to take his side into a 19-11 lead.

Only in the last 20 minutes did Fylde up their game and mount sustained attacks. Scott kicked a penalty on 65 minutes to reduce the deficit and another on 72 minutes to peg the score back to 17-19.

The second decisive moment was on 77 minutes when Cleckheaton again offended and Scott had a penalty opportunity 35 metres out and 15 metres in from the right.

The wind picked up and Scott's kick, which he would have normally expected to have converted, drifted to the right of the upright.