BROOKE EDGLEY SPECIALIST TECHNICAL SERVICES CUP: FIRST ROUND.

Vale A became the first team to defeat high flying Sedgley Park, who are top of the Bateman BMW Premier League with nine straight wins from nine games. Only three weeks ago the Vale suffered a 63-33 defeat at Park Lane so there was a level of trepidation surrounding the second meeting.

As the final score line suggests it had to be an extra special performance from the Vale to defeat such quality opponents who have swept everything before them in the league. The team spirit that flowed throughout the whole Vale squad was awe inspiring, they supported each other in any given situation with everyone deserving the plaudits that were lavished on them at the final whistle. It was truly a momentous victory, a shock one perhaps, but one that is not totally unexpected in the fascinating, notoriously unpredictable world of knock out rugby.

The home side started with a flourish, which came as no real surprise to the Vale, and after six minutes Park's influential number ten kicked a penalty goal. But the Vale's hard grafting, tightly knit pack began to exert control in the sets, not only protecting their own ball but successfully Park's ability to transfer the ball swiftly to their dangerous back division.

In the twelfth minute Jake Harrison, who had brought extra impetus and power to Vale's lively threequarters, unexpectedly appeared with the ball out of a ruck to race away for a try converted by Sean Coulshed.

On the half hour Sedgley regained the lead when former Vale player, Kingsley Barker broke clear with a powerful, well balanced run for a quality try. Three minutes later the home side eased further ahead with a converted try after a fluid back's move and ominously appeared that they were stepping up a gear. Vale's prominent skipper, Ollie Cowey was forced to leave the action just before the interval with a badly gashed for head and because the wound could not be treated he took no further part in the match.

A reshuffled Vale side began the second half positively but they could not afford to switch off because the league leaders posed an ever present threat and who could, at the flick of a switch, unleash ferocious withering attacks that could easily take the game away from the Vale, as they did on the previous meeting.

However, when one such Park attack broke down in the middle of the field the in form Jimmy Birchall gathered up the ball to pelt away for his try, converted by Sean Coulshed in the forty ninth minute.

Six minute later Jamie Antcliffe made a superb break, James Curran, who as an eye for such happenings, bounded up in support to complete a move with a try converted by Sean Coulshed from a difficult angle.

Sedgley Park threw the proverbial kitchen sink at the Vale as the clock ticked down but the visitors held firm under pressure. Vale's determination was personified by young Alex Hill, who pulled off a try saving tackle, his efforts being replicated on a number of occasions by those around him.

In the seventh minute of injury time Park's left winger crossed for an unconverted try but the Vale were forced to endure another two nail biting minutes of action before they were able to relax and celebrate a thrilling victory in which Jack Mackintosh made a strong contribution and the industrious Joe Clarkson mopped up some dangerous situations, but at the end of the day it was cohesive teamwork that forged the outcome.

Vale A: J Birchall; W Blythe, J Antcliffe, K Harrison, J Curran; S Coulshed, H Bartle; J Stevens, M Field, O Cowey (Capt); D Rainford, J Mackintosh; J Hodgkinson, R Randall, J Clarkson. Replacements used: J Rowan, A Hill.