The weather was almost Mediterranean at Powder House Lane, for this Under 16s clash against local rivals, Kendal. A squad of twenty-one Vale players took to the giant main pitch, but they are used to that by now. After ten years of playing together, they know that pitch, and each other, rather well.

The Vale took the early initiative, claiming territory in stages and probing into the Kendal twenty-two metre zone. Composed forward play paid off with a try to the left corner. Prop Tom Stafford applied the crucial touch. Kendal came back with gusto, creating room for their right winger to dash thirty metres to score on the right. It was not a day for the place kickers as all tries seemed to be out on the edges. Vale had no concerns because their ball carriers were in try-scoring form.

Flanker Oscar Tresham lunged for the line and was denied by the defending player holding up the ball. Tresham's persistence paid dividends, as he made another assault on the line to open his account. It was a similar manoeuvre which resulted in the Vale's third try, finished by tenacious hooker, Martin Czarnecki. Captain Fred Manning took control in possession by sprinting out of danger. Minutes later, it was again Manning who, with admirable skill, drove back the Kendal defenders to score. Sam Brown converted and half time came with the score at twenty-two points to five.

Widespread changes were made, as the coaching team brought on all six replacements. The scrums remained solid, providing a platform from which to operate. The movement was forward and positive but there some handling blips which denied them any reward for their endeavours. The scoreboard came alive again when unstoppable second-row Colm Stewart powered over to register his first try for the team.

Kendal maintained their shape and applied themselves, gaining a penalty ten metres out, which they drove over to score their second try. Vale winger Liam Stirzaker got the spectators excited with a determined twenty-five metre dash up the left flank. Play switched to the right, as scrum-half Alfie Heath made it six. Frustrations led to a Kendal player leaving the field for ten minutes. but still they kept coming. Kendal's third came from their lively No. 8 in the dying seconds.

Notable performances came from Fred Manning and Alfie Moore, but the coaches' man-of-the-match was Oscar Tresham. Coach Steve Bowker said of the team, 'I'm happy with the team's progress with ball-handling, and their attitude.' Next week sees the U.16s in semi-final action in the Lancashire Plate, away against Tyldesley, Greater Manchester.

Team: T. Beveridge, M. Czarnecki, T. Stafford, C. Stewart, S. Dodgson, F. Manning (c), O. Tresham, F. Blakeley, A. Heath, O. McMeeking, G. Ayers, J. Livesey, J. Berry, S. Brown, T. Helme. Reps: Q. Jackson, J. Baker, M. Makinson, L. Stirzaker, A. Lamont, I. Sarikaya.