Vale of Lune 2nd XV v Birkenhead Park 2nd XV

Vale Side :- Management :- Mr. Paul Peters; Mr. Matthew Bennett

Archie Fowler
Dom Griffiths ©
Tom Smith
Morgan Wilgrass
Adam Foxcroft
Matt Field
Dan Clare
Sam Walton
Lee Starkey
Henry Clifton
Josh Mitton
Ike Eastwood
Matt Thackeray
Campbell Murrell
Finlay Swindlehurst
Dan Clare
Connor Kyriacou
Petra Aleksov

The commencement of a new season in fact the 22nd year from the origin of The North West Leagues.’ Vale now in the Baines Plumbing Division One. The Vale XV had numbers of new faces in place and please excuse your scribe if firstly I’ve missed including one or two, but secondly not knowing who might have scored any tries. Please accept my apologies. I must correct these missing names as we move on in the season.

The Birkenhead Park side arrived and were amazed at the state of the pitch, one comment as they arrived – Is, it artificial grass ?? quickly re-buffed that it wasn’t, It was indeed immaculate.!!

The game kicked off in blazing sunshine and a sympathetic Ref Simon Keeley allowed the game to pause at intervals for the lads to quench their thirsts. Of course his own also !!

From the Kick off it was clear the Birkenhead Park were going to cause the Vale XV some problems. This situation wasn’t helped when Tom Smith a stalwart in the Vale side was carried off with a snapped Achilles tendon. Two minutes earlier he could well have scored with a massive personal drive towards the posts. He would have caused the Birkenhead Park many problems. Hurry up back Tom …..

The Birkenhead Park fifteen clearly had players of experience and were taking the game to the Vale with some powerful drives. An infringement by Vale was penalised with a comfortable opportunity to score three points. On 20 minutes they crossed for a try to move further ahead. 8 points to Nil points

From the re-start Adam Foxcroft using his strength and no mean ability drove up the field to enter the Birkenhead half. From the time of him being stopped the Park XV picked up the ball and with some pace and no mean energy they crossed for another try. The Vale XV were at this stage up against it.. 13 points to Nil points.

The youthful Vale XV were under some pressure but importantly heads never went down. The Vale eight generally holding their ground in the set plays and the front row of Archie Fowler, Dom Griffiths (Skipper) and Tom Smith were competing equally. Once Tom had to leave the field after 10 minutes the scrummaging moved to uncontested.

The second row, with the massively experienced Adam Foxcroft along with Morgan Wilgrass were solid and battling in the linesout not taking a backward step in the loose play. A mobile back row of Dan Clare taking his place deservedly after Petra Aleksov broke down in the warm up phases pre-game, Sam Walton enjoying a good game on his debut and the ever, reliable Matt Field offering his tremendous experience.

With the scrummaging turning into an uncontested situation inevitably the game changed somewhat. Scrum halves had more time and Lee Starkey, was using this to some effect but at scrum half he isn’t able to use his pace which we all know he possesses. At fly half Henry Clifton was moving the ball swiftly to his threequarters and he is a player to watch.

Outside Henry were the experienced Matt Thackeray and Ike Eastwood both sound experienced players and playing at full stretch throughout the game with an emphasis on defence in the circumstances. Apart from the solidity and clear experience of the Birkenhead side the Vale with their youth were battling hard and both wings Campbell Murray and Josh Mitton were showing their undoubted pace on the occasions they received the ball. At fullback Finlay Swindlehurst was enjoying a sound game, but the Vale XV certainly in the first half were under some severe pressure.

The game had moved in Birkenhead’s favour when they crossed for a further 5 pointer, followed by a further score taking the score to 18 points to nil at the turn.

This was to change second half >>>>>

Managers Paul Peters and Matthew Bennetts had a lot to say at half time in the huddle and Skipper Dom Griffiths was becoming more vociferous as the game progressed. Replacement Connor Kyriacou took his place on the Park.

Early second half Park took their score with a converted try to 25 points to nil. This signalled a change in the Vale side, moving away from being on the back foot, to taking the game to the Birkenhead side.

A concerted drive in the scoreboard corner took them over for their first score followed by the two points. 25 points to 7 points.

Had the Park XV succumbed to the heat? as Vale took the initiative with a follow up try by the ever energetic Dan Clare. What a player !!

The score now 25 points to 12. This was followed by an error – think it was an error ?? – by the Birkenhead Park touch judge calling a foot in touch by Vale when it clearly wasn’t as seen by the experienced lads on the bench Reg Robinson and Cliff Huck who made their feelings felt. At this stage the Vale were in open play and in a position to score which would have taken them within reach of the Park score.

A massive turn round in the game.

In the end the gap was too big to close and with the game closing at 25 points to 12 points the youthful Vale team could be proud of their efforts on the day.

Maybe I might take the liberty of naming the Man of the Match, with a number of names coming to mind. Dan Clare always puts in 110% effort, Dom Griffiths as Skipper was always on the ball particularly at the breakdowns, Matt Field is always at the front wherever he plays. Front Row, Back Row, centre or wing a must in any Vale side. The side inevitably needs the experience and physique of Adam Foxcroft.

Above all the lads mentioned Archie Fowler would be my Man of the Match he enjoyed a most energetic game evading tackles taking the ball into the midst of the Birkenhead defence and never taking a backward step.

Next week we move to Broughton Park, lads please make yourselves available after yesterdays second half transformation there is no reason why we can’t come a way with a victory at Broughton Parks Hough End Ground. !!!!

Fred Swarbrick.