October looms, and for a team that has not lost a game since Valentine's Day, every match is either a trial or a joy. Will the illusion pop, or will the dream go on?

The Vale 1st XV's first meaningful encounter of the NW1 adventure carried that enticing range of possibilities. It was up to the collection of talents on the pitch to determine the outcome. The sun came out to adorn Rochdale, and the story went on.

The Vale's livewire flanker Sam Walton left early for treatment to an eye injury. Reorganising ensued, and the skill-set of the crew on the bench began to kick in. Rochdale stepped up production and pressed into the Vale twenty-two metre area. They powered over the tryline to open the scoring, and soon added a second to reinforce their intent.

Alex Ryder came on to bolster the forward effort. From a sustained period of possession, Jordan Dorrington made the crucial break for Ben McGarvey to strike in the right corner. Mike Bradshaw infringed the rucking rules, and was dispatched for a breather. It was time to dig deep. Eddie Abdelghafar led the backs' charge, earning a chance for Jamie Mayall to slot home a penalty kick to narrow the gap to 14-8 to the home side at the break.

Alex Briggs made a welcome return to 1st team rugby after injury. A high clearance from the Vale fell to Rochdale's nippy centre, who darted through the gaps to set up the next Rochdale try. More staff changes brought on Vale's debut man Ben Gould for scrum half Matty Kaye.

A Rochdale foot-in-touch was flagged by the touch judge but overruled by the referee. The resultant possession set off a passing phase across the pitch for Rochdale's fourth try. Sam Wallbank transgressed the tackling laws and headed for the bench. With seventeen points in it, a man down, and fifteen minutes remaining on the clock, it was no time for the faint-hearted. Thankfully for the faithful, this squad is anything but that.

The flamboyant Jack Macfarlane pulled one back and Mayall added the garnish. Grafting together with increased energy, the Vale pack enabled prop Tadgh Butler to register his first Vale try. Three points behind and with the bit between their teeth, the Vale rose in confidence, cancelling out all of Rochdale's earlier advantages.

The final word was delivered in the form of a relentless spell of Vale forward possession, well past eighty minutes, in the Rochdale twenty-two metre area. The ball spun out to Ben McGarvey to finish under the posts. Amidst the visiting crowd's jubilation, Jamie Mayall, sporting a head bandage, kicked the conversion.

The cream of the backs was Eddie Abdelghafar, but the man-of-the-match was captain Jack Ayrton. The Vale's winning streak goes on to the first home fixture of the season against Leek RUFC next Saturday. Kick off at 3pm.

Team. (D indicates Debut.) J. Crompton, T. Verlaque, T. Butler, J. Sutcliffe, L. Procter, S. Walton, J. Ayrton (C), S. Wallbank, M. Kaye, H. Clifton, B. McGarvey, J. Mayall, E. Abdelghafar, J. Macfarlane, J. Dorrington. Reps: M. Bradshaw, R. Taylor-Smith, A. Ryder, A. Briggs, B. Gould (D)
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(Pictured: Captain Jack Ayrton leads out his men.)