Cloudy with the threat of rain was the ambient situation at Rochdale, as the Vale took to the field for the last of their preseason friendlies Their opponents are also preparing for the NW1 campaign, and the two sides will meet again in a fortnight in the league.

More debutantes were given the chance to show their skills. Alfie Heath, Rauri Taylor-Smith and Matty Kaye each made their case for future selection. Harrison Dodge and Matty Davenport both returned to first team action.

Jeffrey Ainslie had the whistle, and he oversaw a cautious game, with both sides cancelling out each other's initiatives. Defences were tested with darting runs from the backs, but the tacklers were able to contain these sorties. Some front row rotation did not change anything, but when Jordan Dorrington left the field with a knock to the knee, Sam Walton moved to the backs and Luke Procter came on in the pack.

On the stroke of half time, Rochdale broke the stalemate with a contentious try. It emanated from an offside decision on the Vale's ten metre line. The travelling support protested that as a ruck had not been formed, the Vale player could not be offside. Mr Ainslie was adamant, and the try stood. The half time score reached a dizzying 7 - 0.

Vale restarted with gusto and purpose. A long, diagonal kick into Rochdale territory was chased down by the lively Heath. The subsequent possession and pressure gave Jamie Mayall the ball and the space to skip through to score under the posts. Alex Ryder made the next break for No. 9 Ben McGarvey to claim the lead.

Dodge came on in place of England and Davenport came on for Wallbank. The Vale's grip on the game remained tight. A concerted forwards' effort resulted in a try for Josh Sutcliffe. A similar situation ten metres out was finished in style by Luke Procter. It was unusual to find captain Jack Ayrton on the left wing rather than his usual place in the blast furnace of the pack, but he made it pay with a fifth try in the corner. Five out of five conversions for Mayall took the final score to 7 - 35 to the visitors.

Good news for the Vale coaches was that Dorrington's knee injury was diagnosed as bruising. He is expected to be back for the next encounter. The supporters are keen to see more from him.

Friendlies have their value, but they lack that competitive edge found when league points are at stake. What can be confirmed is the squad's willingness to compete, work together and bounce back when they find themselves behind. A rest week ensues, then it's back to Rochdale on the 26th for the main event.

Team: (D indicates Debut.) J. Stevens, J. Lashley, T. Butler, J. Sutcliffe, A. Ryder, S. Walton, J. Ayrton (C), S. Wallbank, B. McGarvey, H. Clifton, K. Briston, J. Mayall, J. Dorrington, C. England, J. Macfarlane. Reps: J. Crompton, H. Dodge, A. Heath (D), M. Davenport, R. Taylor-Smith (D), L. Procter, M. Kaye (D).

(Picured: Josh Sutcliffe in flight.)