1st XV
Matches
Sat 12 Oct 2019  ·  North One West
Stockport
38
29
Vale of Lune RUFC
1st XV
Tries: M Forrest, J Ayrton, A Briggs, J RobinsonConversions: A Briggs (2), M ForrestPenalties: A Briggs
I-SPY AN INTERCEPTION.

I-SPY AN INTERCEPTION.

Stuart Vernon14 Oct 2019 - 06:40
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https://www.valeoflunerufc.org

Close harmony play did always hit the correct notes.

1 Owen Branford Online Systems
2 Harm Dokter Bay Travel
3 Ross Pillow Fatlads Utd
4 Harry Fellows Carpet and Floorcare
5 Steve Tagg CM Ferguson Decorating
6 Andy Powers SJB Tiling Ltd
7 Jack Ayrton Allan Entwistle
8 James Robinson George Dickson
9 Taylor Mills Penhale Society
10 Alex Briggs Fine and Country
11 Ike Eastwood Matthews Benjamin
12 Michael Forrest Ron Higgin
13 Ethan Robertson AJB Electrical
14 Jordan Fern Baines Plumbing & Heating
15 Scott Manning FGH Security
16 James Hesketh
17 Tom Smith
18 Adam Foxcroft

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Referee: John Pemberton (MCR)

The two clubs last faced each other at Headlands Road in March 2018 when the Vale of Lune completed the double over Stockport with an impressive 68-21 victory, a result that confirmed they would be crowned champions of North One West. Since then torrents of water have sluiced under Vale’s bridge and they find themselves facing their long standing rivals, who were formerly called Davenport, once again at Level 6.

Prior to kick off in the Autumn tinged suburbs of Bramhall, not far from Bramall Hall the ancestral home of the Davenport family for many centuries, Vale held a five point lead in North One West over their hosts but at the final whistle the gap had narrowed to a single point in what had been a contest characterized by some sloppy passing from both sides which resulted in tries being gifted. The Davenport’s family coat of arms depicts a man with a rope round his neck and on the day the ligature was coiled firmly around Vale’s jugular after another unsuccessful attempt to achieve victory on the road.

Typhoon Hagibis disrupted the fixtures in the Rugby World Cup and a fair amount of rain pelted down in the second half at The Memorial Ground which did not help either side’s cause, but it did keep the pot boiling.

Stockport’s recently installed electronic scoreboard was soon blinking brightly to record the home side’s opening score which came after four minutes had elapsed. From a well drilled line out the forwards shunted their way to the left hand corner and in a flash of red, white and green number eight, Richard Sackville-West touched down, his try being converted by winger Dudley Southern.

Eight minutes later the LED’s were twinkling against Vale’s title when man of the match, centre, Michael Forrest, intercepted a lazy Stockport pass to sprint fifty five metres for a clinical try which stand-off Alex Briggs converted from in front.

Both sides showed plenty of energy and graft, Harry Fellows was soaring at the line outs, scrum half Taylor Mills, on his debut, was busy and workmanlike behind the scrum and as the mid way point of the half approached the Vale moved into the lead. A counter attack was led by Jack Ayrton and when the Vale forwards dragged in their opposite numbers in the ten metre area, prop Ross Pillow surged for the line, the ball was recycled to allow Jack Ayrton to pounce for an unconverted try.

All the pressure was being applied by the Vale but the fickle finger of fate struck in the twenty sixth minute when possession was lost close to Stockport’s line and in the shadow of the posts. A flat Vale defence was in no position to deal with the counter attack that ended with Dudley Southern racing seventy metres for his solo try which he converted.

In the thirty second minute a subdued Vale side conceded another converted try when following Stockport pressure lock Dean Schofield strong armed his powerful frame over, with Dudley Southern putting over the conversion.

Vale picked up the pace to turn the game around and to establish a half time lead. Michael Forrest made a break from midfield, gliding through Stockport’s defence before delivering the perfect pass to Alex Briggs who had a clear run to the line for his try which he converted in the thirty ninth minute. As the half drew to a close the heavens opened but the Vale made light of the downpour. Scott Manning dashed over the glistening surface, the forwards compressed Stockport and with the last kick of the half Alex Briggs lashed over a long range penalty goal.

With the rain falling vertically Stockport regained the lead in the opening minute of the second half. The ball was kicked through, the Vale were slow to spot the danger and before they could wipe the rain from their eyes Matt Blackman was squeezing the ball down for a try converted by Dudley Southern.

A penalty was kicked Dudley Southern in the forty ninth minute and in the fifty fourth minute they posted their final score when another of those pesky interceptions made their presence felt. Once more the Vale were in an advantageous position on Stockport’s line when the ball was coughed up. Centre Matt Blackman raced into clear water but was chased all the way by Michael Forrest who made the tackle on half way but the ball flirted away before it was gathered up by winger Jovan Bredell for a try against the run of play that was converted by Dudley Southern.

As the rain began to ease slightly the Vale came on strongly, they had by now emptied their heavy bench of big hitters which comprised, James Hesketh, Tom Smith and Adam Foxcroft, a combination in excess of fifty five stone that soon had Stockport on the back foot but despite all the grunting the Vale had to wait until the seventy fourth minute before they could grab the try bonus point.

The pack, with all the horse power of a Centurion Tank, rolled Stockport over their goal line for the hard working James Robinson who was playing at number eight, to ground the ball, his try being converted by Michael Forrest from wide on the right after Alex Briggs had limped off earlier with a damaged fetlock.

Time ran out for the Vale, Stockport defended stoutly in the face of some powerful thrusts from the Vale, however, a nine point gap was a ravine that the Vale were unable to bridge but they had the consolation of collecting a bonus point.

The game emphasised the importance of making friends with the ball because if not it can turn round and bite the hands that feeds it, as happened too often for the respective coaches. Inscribed on the beer glasses was some excellent advice, “On victory you deserve beer, in defeat you need it!” Certainly Vale’s supporters drank deeply as they collected their thoughts in the clubhouse afterwards but the loss was not severe enough to have them queuing up to sign the pledge.

Match details

Match date

Sat 12 Oct 2019

Kickoff

15:00

Meet time

11:45

Competition

North One West

League position

6
Vale of Lune
7
Stockport
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Club and Player Sponsor - Bay Travel
Club Sponsor - Walling UK
Club Sponsor - Harrison Drury Solicitors
Club Sponsor - Dave Kendall
Club Sponsor - ACE Skips
Club Sponsor - MARDON
Club Sponsor - South Lakes Windows
Club Sponsor - MJ Catterall
Club Sponsor - Approved Inspectors Ltd
Club Sponsor - Pink Skips/Quay Concrete
Club Sponsor - Bay Fire
Club Sponsor - Handlesbanken
Club Sponsor - Radcliffe and Bibby
Club Sponsor - Yesss Electrical
Club Sponsor - Oakmere Homes
Club Sponsor - Graham Group
Club Sponsor - Alex Willis Funeral Home
Club Sponsor - Cumberland Building Society
Club Sponsor - Wallings
Club Sponsor - Travellers Choice
Club Sponsor - Lancastrian Estates
Club Sponsor - Patty's Farm Barn
Player Sponsor - SJB Tiling
Club Sponsor - Burton & Fisher
Club Sponsor - Maine Amusements
Player Sponsor - Allan Entwistle
I'st team Shirt Sponsor - Lloyds South Lakes
Season 22/23  , 23/24 Ball Sponsor - Blend Accountants