This popular fixture, in memory of Andrew Crowe, who played both for the Vale of Lune and Carnforth, had to be postponed last season because of a backlog of fixtures caused in the main by the atrocious weather. The last meeting was played at Kellet Road in May 2012 for the first time in the trophy's history, which was won by the Vale 27-17.

In the seventeenth Andrew Crowe encounter, the inaugural game was played in the 1995/96 season, the Vale won a sparkling contest of committed rugby that complimented a sunny Bank holiday afternoon at The Lane in front of a large crowd of supporters, friends and families. In fact the only the downside was the injury sustained to Carnforth's Sam Tomlinson which caused a long hold up in play during the second half while he was treated for his injury before being transferred to an ambulance.

Conditions were perfect and to huge cheers from their travelling supporters, Carnforth opened the scoring with an unconverted try from winger Kieron Morgan when he accelerated away for his five pointer in the fifth minute. Vale bounced back three minutes later with a try from the explosive James Moorby, who rounded off a slick passing movement, Neil Walker added the conversion.

Suddenly the Vale moved up a gear and in the eighteenth minute, Jake Harrison powerfully crashed through the stables doors for a try again converted by Walker N. Carnforth combined passion with endeavour and were rewarded in the twenty eighth minute when winger Matt Short breached the Vale's defences for his try which was converted by Kevin Hardy.

Carnforth found themselves within touching distance of the Vale's lead and with skipper Graham Rich leading from the front and pulling all the right levers, the intensity and commitment shifted onto another level, but in the closing minutes of a pulsating utterly absorbing half, the Vale added to their total with tries from Adam Foxcroft and Harrison, both converted by Walker N.

Three minutes into the second half Vale's prop Alex Cowey added to a fine individual performance with an unconverted try. Dan Blenkhorn was instrumental in firing up a period of Carnforth pressure before the injury to Sam Tomlinson caused a long hold up in play.

Both sides were quickly back on track and as the game moved into added time Carnforth's replacement Jason Short set off on a thundering run, brushing off would be tacklers as he hurtled away for an unconverted try. The final score however, was scored by Moorby who snapped up a bobbling ball to scoot between the posts, his try being converted by Walker N.

All the players deserved the generous applause from the large crowd at the final whistle after what had been a hugely entertaining contest that straight from the kick off gave notice that this was to be a serious game of rugby. There would be no time for showboating, this was indeed a proper game, there was a detectable edge to the proceedings which was confirmed by the ferocity surrounding the early tackles, fair but hard. The standard was set, there was to be no hiding place or shirking of responsibilities, something that Andrew Crowe would have approved of.

Finally a special mention about the performance of referee Sean McGlue, who on a warm day in a fast moving game, rolled back the years. He was not only up with play but applied the laws fairly and firmly and deservedly earned the respect of the players for his genial handling of a special fixture that means so much to both clubs.

Vale A: K Doyle; J Moorby, J Harrison, M Walker, W Blythe; N Walker, H Bartle; A Cowey, O Cowey, M Field; R Mudd, A Foxcroft Capt); R Needham, M Kitchen, J O'Donnell. Replacements: S Manning, O Dobson, C Strachen.

Carnforth 1sts: D Lowrie; K Morgan, D Helme, J Harrison, M Short; J Edmundson, K Hardy; S Weed, J Wilson, J Waterhouse; P Sowerby, J Greenland; G Rich (Capt), D Blenkhorn, L Hall. Replacements: S Tomlinson, C Whaley, C Hall, J Short, B Brocklebank.