The end British Summer Time was celebrated by the Vale of Lune on a high note, not by cantering around some isolated peak, chanting, with hardly at stitch on to hide their modesty, but by recording their highest ever victory against Northwich.

Vale of Lune are currently a side packed full of midget gems and against Northwich they burst out of the box in a tumbling torrent, a lip smacking assault on the taste buds.

It would be fair to say, without disparaging the individuals involved, that a number of the Vale’s current line up is vertically challenged, but what they might lack in inches they more than compensate with their industry around the field.

Against Northwich they were led by the ebullient Darren Wilson, but the pocket battleship commander received valuable support from a petite trio of full back Tom Ball, hooker Phil Berry and debutant centre Terence McCaw, no relation to Richie. Now this quartet of players would not look out of place in the weighing in room at Haydock Park, but most certainly would not qualify for tossing around bars in New Zealand.

There are also a number of others in the squad who do not reach the six foot chalk mark but against a much taller and larger Northwich side the physical discrepancies did no appear to affect the overall performance of the home side. For the Vale players it was very much a case of “Heigh oh, it’s off to work we go” and “dig, dig, dig,” and dig some more for victory, and don’t forget to whistle while you work.

But whether the match winning contribution came from the long, the short or the tall it was by far the Vale’s most impressive performance of the season, and was made all the more satisfying coming hard on the heels of the calamitous experience at Broughton Park the previous week.

Every season unearths a nugget or two that live long in the memory and are usually associated with a victory, but this is not always the case, so the five pointer against Northwich was a result to treasure in particular when viewed in the current context of player availability.

A lengthening injury list is beginning to hamper the selectors. There were no recognised threequarters either fit or available for selection, while Andy Powers, a multitalented forward, was drafted into the centre and was rock solid throughout. T J McCaw, fully lived up to his reputation on the back of rave reports following his consistent second team performances and Ball shoehorned easily into his role at full back.

During the course of the game Vale lost the services of both their props through injury, Dan Woodward and James Hesketh, but replacement Alex Morrison and Jack Ferguson more than coped with the pressures. Towards the end Alex Baines was also helped off after yet another one hundred percent contribution from the youngster.

Despite all the difficulties encountered by the pack they refused to buckle and this was personified during a nine minute period of intense Northwich pressure deep inside their own twenty in the second half. As the visitor’s pack turned up the heat Berry was sent to the sin bin for offering the referee too much advice, and even though the scrums were uncontested in his absence Northwich still made life difficult for the Vale.

With everyone playing their part in repelling wave upon wave of Northwich attacks, eventually a gap opened up and prop Lawrence Cray was catapulted over the line for an unconverted try in the sixty third minute.

Over the seasons Northwich have proved to be a very obdurate and resilient side and even though they trailed 17-5 there was still enough time left for them to cause an upset and with the wind at their backs they must have been galvanised by their score.

But whatever hopes they harboured were dashed within minutes of the restart. T J made a break, Ferguson muscled in on the scene and with Northwich players clinging all over him he still found the strength to slip the ball to Gareth Tudor. Suddenly the number eight, who had a massive game, was running free in acres of space for a well deserved try converted by Moore.

With Berry back on the field the Vale eight had the satisfaction of pushing their opposite numbers off the ball, and in the second minute of injury time a jubilant Moore dummied his way though a maze for the bonus point try which he converted to huge roars from the East Terrace in particular from those who had been put through the emotional mangle at Houghend Crescent.

Their was an air of apprehension in the Maurice Armstrong Bar while sponsors and their guests, plus the regular diners tucked into their pre match lunch, not only studying Vale’s line up in the match programme but glancing with a wary eye at the physique of the Cheshire lads.

But after an early scare when the visitor’s goal kicker, Chris Dale missed a fourth minute penalty kick, any dyspepsia that might have been building up quickly disappeared four minutes later when the Vale went into the lead.

Moore cross kicked behind the Northwich defence and before the defenders could react, James Hodder collected the ball in full stride to race away for a try. In the euphoria generated by the try few noticed prop Woodward not only gently placing the ball on the kicking tee but adding the extras, followed by a mile wide grin as he strutted back to the half way line.

James Curran danced his way up to the five metre line but Woodward was off target with a penalty before he put over a thirty five metre effort in the twentieth minute, but the newly discovered goal kicking machine had to be replaced by Morrison in the twenty ninth minute.

The half ended with a thrilling enterprising move from the Vale. From a scrum the ball was swiftly moved to the right, Ball hot footed it into the line, drew in the cover before passing to Curran who was quickly went through the gears to sprint behind the posts for a try converted by Moore with four minutes remaining.

Playing into the wind in the second half the Vale played with composure. Ball hurtled through but was badly baulked as he chased his kick and Hodder twisted his way but was nailed before he found open water.

Northwich, who like the Vale, have too many players sidelined with injury for comfort began, to turn up the heat in the fifty third minute, eventually battering their way over ten minutes later but the Vale lit up grey rainy afternoon with a brace of scores.

On Saturday the Vale travel to Wilmslow. Will it be an explosive encounter or a damp squib? After witnessing the Broughton Park and Northwich games it will all depend very much on which Vale of Lune team gets off the coach at the Memorial Ground.

Match Sponsors: Burton and Fisher, Financial Services

Match Ball Sponsor: Border Asset Management