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FLUCTUATING FORTUNES: FROM FROWNS TO FANFARES.
Stuart Vernon9 Apr 2021 - 13:51
After being grounded on the rocks Vale re-floated to cross the finish line early.
If you will excuse me for playing fast and loose with the Kurt Weill's beautiful, evocative lyrics; “It's along, long time from 16 November 2002 until 23 March 2303,” because this time span encompassed Vale's unbeaten run of 17 games which included, league, cup and club fixtures; during this defining period Vale registered 649 points and only conceded 207.
Vale's proud sequence ended at West Park St Helens in the semi final of the John Burgess Lancashire Cup with a 43-12 defeat, their only previous loss had been at Chester, 17-6, on 9 November 2002 in the third round of the Powergen Intermediate Cup.
“All good things must come to an end” intones the old proverb, but Vale's historic sequence was crucial in cementing together the foundations stones for the season, one split breeze block was not going to topple the tower of success and while the return journey from WA10 3AG might have lacked it usual joie de vivre it did not pull a blanket over the upcoming home league game against Wigton and what a positive outcome would herald for the future.
At the final whistle against West Park St Helens the scoreline could not be argued with, and overall Vale could offer no excuses as they shipped their highest number of points against since losing 45-12 to Sale Jets in a warm up game. Vale were on the ropes for most of the second half, after turning round only 8-7 down; their only consolation being a seventy sixth minute unconverted try from Neil Latham following a sweeping attack that began in their own half.
Changes were made in Vale's squad following the epic at Stockport because of injury and unavailability but non-the less Mark Nelson was able to submit a strong line up for the match day programme. The changes forced on the selectors did not hinder their pro-active approach and they quickly created mayhem in the opponents ranks in the first minute. With the wind and slope in their favour Vale opened strongly. From a scrum in West Park's twenty two following a knock on from the kick off by their full back, “Dennis the Menace,” aka, Mike Huntington, at number nine and in only his fifth outing of the season, linked with his mentor, Steve Swarbrick, who in turn sent Malcolm Fowler crunching over for the slickest of tries which was converted by Neil Latham.
West Park were momentarily taken aback by Vale's impertinence, they were after all comfortably placed in the middle of North One and not best pleased by having their pockets picked. They gradually regained a semblance of control but found Vale's back row of Anthony Ireland, Grant Little and Malcolm Fowler a constant threat, be it attack or defence.
A West Park penalty goal helped to calm the nerves but Vale's teamwork and spirit caused them to keep their antenna tuned in because there were times when Vale slipped below the radar. However, West Park marshalled their forces to good effect and in the twenty fifth minute posted an unconverted try following a sequence of swift, short, accurate passing that nodded in the direction of players who were comfortable in operating in both codes, nothing unusual in St Helens and its surroundings.
It was a half that had the juices flowing. For Vale, Ian Bird was as always heavily involved as were forwards Alex Morrison, Lee Farnworth and John Bowskill, while Andy Armistead halted a dangerous attack with a brave double tackle. It had been a half of thrust and counter thrust, full of skill and commitment, all the ingredients associated with cup rugby, but as metrologists are fond of forecasting, “a change is on its way!” and a storm was brewing.
The West Park players hunkered down during the interval, a serious pow-wow took place, war paint was refreshed and before the smoke signals had dispersed the tom-toms for victory were pounding; West Park were on the warpath and sweeping deep into Vale territory.
At times Vale managed to battle the terrain but were unable to consolidate any gains made and all the time they had to cope with a perfectly choreographed war-dance of tries from West Park. It was a good honest performance from Vale but when West Park hit their straps in the second forty the outcome was signed, sealed and delivered, leaving Vale to lick their wounds; West Park high tailed it to Sedgley Park to face Preston Grasshoppers in the final, losing 34-31.
Without a shadow of doubt Vale had been well and truly ambushed on Prescott Road but once the game had been chewed over they retired to their tepee to prepare and plan for their final home league game of the season against Wigton. In the meantime it was the responsibility of the “elders” to ensure that no deep rooted psychological damage had been inflicted by the defeat but that the loss should be turned to advantage to allow a concentration of minds ahead of the Wigton fixture.
Wigton, who had already lost to Vale 29-3 at Lowmoor Road, were in seventh place having won nine and lost nine, and were unbeaten in their last four games, having beaten Stockport at home, 21-7, in their last outing.
Rob Myler returned to the centre, Jimmy Moore resumed at scrum half, the consummate Dan Griffiths came in on the wing with James Bryan continuing at full back. The front row was tweaked with Kit Rickerby between the shafts at hooker, but the second row and back row was unchanged from the previous week.
With three league games still in the locker it is not hard to imagine that some of the players had not studied the table after the Stockport game and the fixtures being played on the same Saturday as the Wigton fixture. Some might have indulged in a spot of lateral thinking; specifically should Vale win and Rochdale lose at home to Stockport. Dare anyone go down that route pre kick off?
The first half suggested that Vale's thoughts were elsewhere, they lacked both rhythm and flair but plodded their way to a 6-3 half time lead thanks to a brace of Jimmy Moore penalty goals his second one being a monstrous belt from his cultured boot, ten metres inside Vale's half. Wigton must have felt disappointed to be trailing at half time, because they had looked the far better organised side against the league leaders.
Such a lumbering, unimaginative performance had Mark Nelson grinding his molars and before the final peep from referee Crosier's whistle had died away he was rounding up the players and starting to rattle the teacups.
Demosthenes, a Greek speechifier, declared, “What worse charge can anyone bring against an orator than that his words and sentiments do not tally?” Well it took some time for Coach Nelson's word of wisdom to percolate through, after all fine words or even strong ones, “butter no parsnips,” and it was a while into the second forty before Vale started spreading the Lurpak, once it had softened.
Tension filled the air during the opening forays of the second half, Wigton continued to poke and probe and generally get under Vale's skin, but following a bolt of lightning from Jimmy Moore and a stiletto thrust from Dan Griffiths the game started to swing in Vale's favour. Following this passage of dynamic rugby and the ensuing ruck Rob Myler wrong footed the defenders with a sway of his lean torso. He quickly glanced from right to left to confirm that Wigton's wall was starting to crumble and as the joints opened up he slipped over for his try which Jimmy Moore converted in the fiftieth minute.
Five minutes later Mr Moore dished out further pain to the visitors when he kicked a penalty goal but the Cumbrians snatched up the gauntlet with relish. James Bryan pulled off a try saving tackle and in the sixty third minute Wigton's scrum half kicked a penalty goal to remind Vale the outcome was not yet cast in stone.
Rob Myler imperiously collected his second try in the sixty sixth minute with all the purring qualities associated with a Rolls Royce engine as he eased his way over the line but it had required the earth moving exploits of Malcolm Fowler to send him on his regal way; Jimmy Moore, courtesy of his Adidas boot, again obliged with a conversion.
Jimmy kicked a penalty goal with nine minutes remaining but as the clocked ticked down the bush telegraph clicking out of Moorgate Avenue relayed the news that Rochdale were losing to Stockport.
Gradually, like gentle waves lapping on the shoreline, word was passed around the ground, meantime while Vale were going through their warm down exercises, white horses started to appear followed by confirmation from the League Secretary and Chairman of Rochdale that Stockport had won the arm wrestle, 31-21.
The significance of this outcome was not lost on Vale's players and supporters because the victory against Wigton had brought their league points total to 36 and although Rochdale, who had three games to play, one more than Vale, the maximum they could reach was 35. Rochdale did indeed finish as runners up but lost at Sheffield in a play off game.
Once the significance of the result at Rochdale had sunk in then the celebrations began in earnest; high fives, back slapping, handshaking and hugging were all par for the course. Beer pumps were flicked into overdrive, glasses filled, toasts were proposed, and the players danced a merry jig or three, some peeling off their shirts. A beaming Ian Bird tossed away the head protector he had been wearing, before baring his chest for the “Lancaster Guardian” photographer; such a rich growth of hair must have caused a few palpitations for the readers as they tackled their breakfast fry up!
The celebration went long into the night and the following day the clubhouse was still buzzing, but there were still a brace of league games waiting in the wings to be played, away against ninth placed Broughton Park and at Aspull who were third from bottom. Although Vale had won the league, and basked in the glory of being crowned champions elect, the book was far from closed, two more chapters were to be written, and alas they did not make for pleasant reading!
Vale's proud sequence ended at West Park St Helens in the semi final of the John Burgess Lancashire Cup with a 43-12 defeat, their only previous loss had been at Chester, 17-6, on 9 November 2002 in the third round of the Powergen Intermediate Cup.
“All good things must come to an end” intones the old proverb, but Vale's historic sequence was crucial in cementing together the foundations stones for the season, one split breeze block was not going to topple the tower of success and while the return journey from WA10 3AG might have lacked it usual joie de vivre it did not pull a blanket over the upcoming home league game against Wigton and what a positive outcome would herald for the future.
At the final whistle against West Park St Helens the scoreline could not be argued with, and overall Vale could offer no excuses as they shipped their highest number of points against since losing 45-12 to Sale Jets in a warm up game. Vale were on the ropes for most of the second half, after turning round only 8-7 down; their only consolation being a seventy sixth minute unconverted try from Neil Latham following a sweeping attack that began in their own half.
Changes were made in Vale's squad following the epic at Stockport because of injury and unavailability but non-the less Mark Nelson was able to submit a strong line up for the match day programme. The changes forced on the selectors did not hinder their pro-active approach and they quickly created mayhem in the opponents ranks in the first minute. With the wind and slope in their favour Vale opened strongly. From a scrum in West Park's twenty two following a knock on from the kick off by their full back, “Dennis the Menace,” aka, Mike Huntington, at number nine and in only his fifth outing of the season, linked with his mentor, Steve Swarbrick, who in turn sent Malcolm Fowler crunching over for the slickest of tries which was converted by Neil Latham.
West Park were momentarily taken aback by Vale's impertinence, they were after all comfortably placed in the middle of North One and not best pleased by having their pockets picked. They gradually regained a semblance of control but found Vale's back row of Anthony Ireland, Grant Little and Malcolm Fowler a constant threat, be it attack or defence.
A West Park penalty goal helped to calm the nerves but Vale's teamwork and spirit caused them to keep their antenna tuned in because there were times when Vale slipped below the radar. However, West Park marshalled their forces to good effect and in the twenty fifth minute posted an unconverted try following a sequence of swift, short, accurate passing that nodded in the direction of players who were comfortable in operating in both codes, nothing unusual in St Helens and its surroundings.
It was a half that had the juices flowing. For Vale, Ian Bird was as always heavily involved as were forwards Alex Morrison, Lee Farnworth and John Bowskill, while Andy Armistead halted a dangerous attack with a brave double tackle. It had been a half of thrust and counter thrust, full of skill and commitment, all the ingredients associated with cup rugby, but as metrologists are fond of forecasting, “a change is on its way!” and a storm was brewing.
The West Park players hunkered down during the interval, a serious pow-wow took place, war paint was refreshed and before the smoke signals had dispersed the tom-toms for victory were pounding; West Park were on the warpath and sweeping deep into Vale territory.
At times Vale managed to battle the terrain but were unable to consolidate any gains made and all the time they had to cope with a perfectly choreographed war-dance of tries from West Park. It was a good honest performance from Vale but when West Park hit their straps in the second forty the outcome was signed, sealed and delivered, leaving Vale to lick their wounds; West Park high tailed it to Sedgley Park to face Preston Grasshoppers in the final, losing 34-31.
Without a shadow of doubt Vale had been well and truly ambushed on Prescott Road but once the game had been chewed over they retired to their tepee to prepare and plan for their final home league game of the season against Wigton. In the meantime it was the responsibility of the “elders” to ensure that no deep rooted psychological damage had been inflicted by the defeat but that the loss should be turned to advantage to allow a concentration of minds ahead of the Wigton fixture.
Wigton, who had already lost to Vale 29-3 at Lowmoor Road, were in seventh place having won nine and lost nine, and were unbeaten in their last four games, having beaten Stockport at home, 21-7, in their last outing.
Rob Myler returned to the centre, Jimmy Moore resumed at scrum half, the consummate Dan Griffiths came in on the wing with James Bryan continuing at full back. The front row was tweaked with Kit Rickerby between the shafts at hooker, but the second row and back row was unchanged from the previous week.
With three league games still in the locker it is not hard to imagine that some of the players had not studied the table after the Stockport game and the fixtures being played on the same Saturday as the Wigton fixture. Some might have indulged in a spot of lateral thinking; specifically should Vale win and Rochdale lose at home to Stockport. Dare anyone go down that route pre kick off?
The first half suggested that Vale's thoughts were elsewhere, they lacked both rhythm and flair but plodded their way to a 6-3 half time lead thanks to a brace of Jimmy Moore penalty goals his second one being a monstrous belt from his cultured boot, ten metres inside Vale's half. Wigton must have felt disappointed to be trailing at half time, because they had looked the far better organised side against the league leaders.
Such a lumbering, unimaginative performance had Mark Nelson grinding his molars and before the final peep from referee Crosier's whistle had died away he was rounding up the players and starting to rattle the teacups.
Demosthenes, a Greek speechifier, declared, “What worse charge can anyone bring against an orator than that his words and sentiments do not tally?” Well it took some time for Coach Nelson's word of wisdom to percolate through, after all fine words or even strong ones, “butter no parsnips,” and it was a while into the second forty before Vale started spreading the Lurpak, once it had softened.
Tension filled the air during the opening forays of the second half, Wigton continued to poke and probe and generally get under Vale's skin, but following a bolt of lightning from Jimmy Moore and a stiletto thrust from Dan Griffiths the game started to swing in Vale's favour. Following this passage of dynamic rugby and the ensuing ruck Rob Myler wrong footed the defenders with a sway of his lean torso. He quickly glanced from right to left to confirm that Wigton's wall was starting to crumble and as the joints opened up he slipped over for his try which Jimmy Moore converted in the fiftieth minute.
Five minutes later Mr Moore dished out further pain to the visitors when he kicked a penalty goal but the Cumbrians snatched up the gauntlet with relish. James Bryan pulled off a try saving tackle and in the sixty third minute Wigton's scrum half kicked a penalty goal to remind Vale the outcome was not yet cast in stone.
Rob Myler imperiously collected his second try in the sixty sixth minute with all the purring qualities associated with a Rolls Royce engine as he eased his way over the line but it had required the earth moving exploits of Malcolm Fowler to send him on his regal way; Jimmy Moore, courtesy of his Adidas boot, again obliged with a conversion.
Jimmy kicked a penalty goal with nine minutes remaining but as the clocked ticked down the bush telegraph clicking out of Moorgate Avenue relayed the news that Rochdale were losing to Stockport.
Gradually, like gentle waves lapping on the shoreline, word was passed around the ground, meantime while Vale were going through their warm down exercises, white horses started to appear followed by confirmation from the League Secretary and Chairman of Rochdale that Stockport had won the arm wrestle, 31-21.
The significance of this outcome was not lost on Vale's players and supporters because the victory against Wigton had brought their league points total to 36 and although Rochdale, who had three games to play, one more than Vale, the maximum they could reach was 35. Rochdale did indeed finish as runners up but lost at Sheffield in a play off game.
Once the significance of the result at Rochdale had sunk in then the celebrations began in earnest; high fives, back slapping, handshaking and hugging were all par for the course. Beer pumps were flicked into overdrive, glasses filled, toasts were proposed, and the players danced a merry jig or three, some peeling off their shirts. A beaming Ian Bird tossed away the head protector he had been wearing, before baring his chest for the “Lancaster Guardian” photographer; such a rich growth of hair must have caused a few palpitations for the readers as they tackled their breakfast fry up!
The celebration went long into the night and the following day the clubhouse was still buzzing, but there were still a brace of league games waiting in the wings to be played, away against ninth placed Broughton Park and at Aspull who were third from bottom. Although Vale had won the league, and basked in the glory of being crowned champions elect, the book was far from closed, two more chapters were to be written, and alas they did not make for pleasant reading!
Further reading