1 Vittorio Bianchin Online Systems
2 Harm Dokter Bay Travel
3 Ross Pillow Fatlads Utd
4 Steve Tagg Carpet and Floorcare
5 Harry Fellows CM Ferguson Decorating
6 Tom Cvijanovic SJB Tiling Ltd
7 Blake Snell Allan Entwistle
8 Jack Ayrton George Dickson
9 Alex Briggs Penhale Society
10 Harry Finan Fine and Country
11 Alfie Bolton Matthews Benjamin
12 Andy Powers Ron Higgin
13 Callum Kyle AJB Electrical
14 Jordan Fern Baines Plumbing & Heating
15 Ryan busby FGH Security
16 Owen Branford
17 James Hesketh
18 Luke Ford
Stockport were making their first visit to Powderhouse Lane since November 2017 when they lost heavily 53-17 in a North One West fixture but in the meeting at Headlands Road last October Stockport won 28-19 despite the monsoon conditions that arrived at the start of the second half.
Once again in the build up the selectors had the wrestle with the problem of finding and fielding a settled threequarter line up, and while there was a familiar ring to the names posted on the team sheet to face Stockport the numbers on their shirts caused some head scratching. Constructing a settled back division is on a similar scale to assembling something recognisable from a combination of Meccano and Lego, not everything fits together and appears lopsided and unbalanced to the trained eye. In Vale’s back division there have been forwards playing in the centre or at scrum half, a stand-off pulling on the number nine jersey, wingers at full back, the permutations have been explored to their mathematical limits; even the Sainted Eddie would struggle with such a potpourri.
Prior to kick a minutes silence was impeccably observed by the players from all the teams in action at Powderhouse Lane and supporters in memory of former President, Chairman, hard working member and highly respected first team player, Phil Sutcliffe, who passed away earlier in the week. Phil, who had a long association with the club played his last first team game over at Sheffield in March 1992 which the Vale lost 47-6, but the following day they lifted the Lancashire Cup with a 12-6 victory over Widnes in a the final which was played at Preston Grasshoppers with Phil cheering the team on from the sidelines.
Playing into the wind which blew straight down an immaculate playing surface from the clubhouse the Vale fell behind to a fifth minute unconverted try from the visitors when flanker Kieran Hibbs broke clear. All the concerns about the selection were put on the back burner by Vale’s faithful when the hosts took the lead in the tenth minute. Tidy work from Alex Briggs around the scrum with assistance from a pack that tramped forward with relish, ended with wing forward Blake Snell being hustled over for his first senior try which Alex Briggs converted.
Stockport were stung into action immediately and soon established a well resourced base camp in Vale’s twenty two. Gaps started to appear and in the fifteenth minute full back Callum Owen took full advantage to scurry through for an unconverted try. Four minutes later Vale’s Emmental was plundered again when scrum half Rory Austin sliced across the cheeseboard for yet another unconverted try.
As the game moved into the second quarter Vale’s forwards started to influence proceedings with man of the match prop Vitoria Bianchin purposefully setting the agenda with the usual energetic suspects, Ross Pillow, Harry Fellows, Tom Cvijanovic and Jack Ayrton as always willing flag carriers. For the first time in the half the Vale started to pose a serious threat causing Stockport to harness their resources.
When Vale’s second try arrived in the twenty fifth minute it came from an unexpected quarter. Alex Briggs directed a kick in the direction of the right flank, a bouncing ball eluded the grasping hands of a Stockport defender and before the danger could be cleared Jordan Fern swooped like a hawk on its prey to wing his way over for his try, Alex Briggs conversion just fell short of its target.
Overall it had not been quite the disastrous half that some had hinted at, Vale’s unit that had jelled quite well and despite playing into the early blasts of Storm Ciara, to turn round only three tries to two down was not calamitous. But everything changed in the opening minute of the second half when Stockport’s talented number eight, Si Green collected the ball at the base of a ruck to run unhindered twenty five metres to the line for a comfortable bonus try which winger Josh Schofield converted.
Full back Ryan Busby lifted any sagging Vale spirits with a deep wind assisted kick and chase and then his fellow forwards began to put themselves about with a series of thundering charges for the line that caused Stockport a few anxious moments.
Vale’s final score came in the fifty seventh minute with Jordan Fern playing an important role in its inception when he weaved his way at speed past some flat footed Stockport defenders before releasing Ryan Busby who whizzed between the uprights, for his first league try, with Alex Briggs kicking the conversion.
Only four points adrift Vale were ideally placed to move into the lead with their forwards assembling the scaffolding but somehow the Vale stuttered in the final twenty minutes, they found the wind difficult to harness, desperate tactics emerged, should they kick?-would it be short or long?-what was the ideal time to start slinging the ball about? It was all confusing to their supporters and it suited Stockport down to the ground.
With time running out Stockport were fully alert to Vale’s wavering, they kept their thinking caps firmly on and in the seventy ninth minute their skipper had no hesitation in ordering Josh Schofield to kick at goal from in front, the number fourteen duly to add the extras. Vale tried to force the issue in a lengthy period of added time but Stockport comfortably dealt with anything that was flung in their direction to ensure they remain within touching distance of the pace setters in the league.
Thank you to Tony North for his superb photographs.
Words, Stuart Vernon.