Report by Stuart Vernon, Photos by Tony North

All good things must come to an end as the Vale of Lune discovered at Round Ash Park when a competitive Leigh side snatched away Vale’s unbeaten record in North One West. There was some small of crumb of comfort for the Vale, following a disappointing low key performance against a club that had only recorded one league victory in the campaign because their nearest rivals at the top of the table, Sale FC also had their unbeaten record taken away following their home defeat by Altrincham Kersal, 14-9.
Leigh are no strangers to overturning the proverbial apple cart and giving their high flying opponents a reality check because last season they became the first club to take away eventual champions Sandbach’s unbeaten seven game record last October.
Certainly the Vale were unable to match the drive and commitment shown by the home side. As always following a lack lustre, unfamiliar performance, excuses can be found but collectively the Vale failed to dominate in manner that their league position suggested, and many of their disappointed supporters will be hoping it was just a blip and normal service will be resumed as quickly as possible.
One thing is for certain they will have do without the services of lock forward Lee Acton for a number of weeks following his red card late in an extended first half. Doubts were also expressed about full back James Hodder’s availability after he suffered an injury to the throat while trying to prevent Leigh’s first try, but he was given the all clear by the medics.
Collectively the Vale were never at the races against a side that was out to impress new coach, Vila Matautia. For long periods the Vale were on the defensive, not necessarily deep in their twenty two, but they used a tremendous amount of energy plugging the gaps as the home side probed continually for openings. It was all very draining for the Vale and left little time to produce the flowing rugby that has been a hallmark of their season so far.
Space was at a premium, the keys to unlock Leigh’s defence appeared to have been left in the changing rooms, but despite being reduced to fourteen players in the second half the Vale did apply pressure in the second half but a combination of hurried dropped passes, wrong options and untidy ball from the sets only added to their woes and frustrations.
While the players were warming up the heavens opened but by kick off time the sun was out but it was soggy on the touchlines. Leigh swarmed all over the Vale in the opening minutes, obviously relishing the challenge of taking the league leaders head on and in no mood to bend the knee. Any thoughts that the Vale had harboured, perhaps subconsciously, about a romp in the Park were dispelled, as were those who found comfort by repeating the mantra that the Vale were notoriously slow starters?
Vale had their work cut out from the start, Jordan Dorrington pulled off an important tackle as Leigh enthusiastically piled on the pressure. In the seventh minute all Leigh’s endeavours were rewarded when full back Elliot Ryan kicked a penalty goal.
Straight from the restart a visibly alert Vale swarmed all over Leigh’s twenty two. The forwards united in a drive that forced Leigh backwards and after a text book surge Sam Wallbank appeared with the ball to confirm the try which was converted by Moore.
A long range penalty from Moore fell short and a scrum was taken against the head as the Vale began to take control. But Leigh refused to panic, their work rate in all areas increased in particular in the forwards who stared to carry the ball in aggressive threating groups, it was not very pretty but very effective as the Vale were forced on the back foot.
The Leigh forwards were quietly softening up the Vale but their try came from a piece of brilliance from stand off Jimmy Wilkinson when he sliced through a huge gap in the Vale’s defence. As the Vale retreated, winger Adam Dyson blasted his way over in the left hand corner in the thirty second minute, in a move that left Hodder prone on the ground and “Nurse Austin” dashing hither and thither. Seven minutes later play resumed but the conversion failed, with referee Cross ruling that the ball had missed the target.
Further problems were heaped on the reshuffled Vale when following a rampaging five metre Leigh line out Acton was shown a red card and in the ninth minute of added time a pumped up Leigh pack hit the sweet spot when hooker Iain Wood collected a popular unconverted try.
Ah well, thought the Vale faithful a half time team talk full of fire and brimstone would do the trick but alas the furnace had gone cold and in the forty fifth minute replacement Dave Harrison kicked a penalty goal to make the Vale’s task even harder.
Invention turned to desperation the longer the game went on as the Vale struggled to string together any penetrating attacks; it was as though Leigh had a copy of the visitor’s game plan tucked inside their jerseys.
True the Vale did not lack the ability to put Leigh on the back foot but they were unable to deliver; cool heads and fast hands should have prevailed but everything became rushed and frantic as the clock ticked down.
With eight minutes remaining Moore kicked a penalty goal to capture a losing bonus point, as a car alarm, not for the first time, started bleeping again, but the only object in imminent danger was the Vale’s unbeaten record.
As the game moved into injury time the Vale opted for a scrum on the edge of Leigh’s twenty two in one last throw of the dice in the hope of finding the lucky seven points for victory. Leigh refused to surrender what they worked so hard for; the attack petered out and gave their new coach a result and performance that he would have been proud of.
The Vale now have an opportunity to lick their wounds ahead of a home fixture against bottom of the table Manchester, but regardless of the visitor’s league position they will looking cause an upset and collect a valuable scalp because after all, prior to their game against the Vale, Leigh were third from bottom of the table.
It would appear that the early skirmishes in North One West are now over as the latest round of results have indicated, the battle line have been redrawn, with the top five being separated by five points; bring on the try bonus point!