The knock on effect of losing key players to the first team always brings with it a back lash and it is a major problem to compensate for their absence. So when such a situation arises that the opposition is of the quality and experience of Sedgley Park 2nd’s the challenge increases dramatically.
Due to the unavailability of some of their regulars the seconds drafted in a number of player not used to performing at a higher level and such was the case for three debutants and all are all to be congratulated on their efforts in a testing cup tie.
Paul Peters coped admirably in the front row and along with the versatile Steve Tagg, made a major contribution in all areas. Harry Vause was plucked out of the Colts to play in the second row and although his opposite number was granite giant he never took a backward step.
The endeavours of these players rubbed off on those around them and although it was always going to be a big ask to overcome a squad of the calibre of Sedgley Park the whole team should be prised for the efforts in producing a praiseworthy and gallant performance.
Sedgley Park announced their intentions early on with a powerful drive that had the Vale struggling to hold onto territory and eventually resulted in an unconverted try being collected.
A Vale counter attack saw Taylor Mills making a sniping break out of defence but the support was slow to arrive and any danger was averted. Vale had to work extremely hard to keep the opposition quiet and their efforts became stamina sapping.
The pressure started to take its toll and from a line out in the twenty sixth minute Park powered over from an unconverted try. Five minutes later the visitors backs showed the prowess when the left winger raced crossfield to link with his opposite number in a sweeping attack that ended with the right wing scoring after he had crashed through some ineffective tackling to complete the first half scoring with an unconverted try.
To have restricted their opponents to a fifteen point lead at the interval was a fine achievement for the Vale and they began the second half in a confident mood and started to take the game to Sedgley. Unfortunately when they tried to run the ball clear on one occasion they became trapped. Sedgley quickly seized possession to instigate a rolling maul that resulted in a converted try.
The Vale regrouped and in the fifty sixth minute Alex Briggs took a quick tap penalty to score the neatest of tries which he converted from a difficult angle. James Curran made a long run but was held up short as the Vale upped their game but Park’s defence proved a tough nut to crack.
A final Sedgley score, a converted try, came in the seventy third minute but the hard working Sam Hoare crowned yet another uncompromising performance with an unconverted try with three minutes left on the clock.
On a day when the Vale were given a thorough examination in all areas Tom Rogers tackled everything that came his way and covered every blade of grass. Charlie Lomas always posed a threat, while Ryan Busby made a number of pacey runs in a contest where the experience of the opposition became a deciding factor.