Macclesfield had been in communication all week regards this game and the viability of it as things stood. They were short of numbers and it was indeed the Friday evening after offers to loan them players that the decision was taken by them to travel. They were short but arrived with 12 on a 40 seater coach.

The Vale had come to an agreement to loan them players and Stu Richardson, Matt Thackeray and Glen Summers agreed to play with them making the game viable in line with the Halbro League Rules. Thank you to those three Gents, actually dare I say it their best players. I think Macclesfield will allow me some slack in this comment !!

The two sides were vying for top place in this most competitive league both unbeaten and sitting on 15 points. A competitive hard game was in prospect.

The tension was evident immediately from the kick off when a hack through by the Macc. side bounced awkwardly causing a mistake to be made by Vale’s Fullback Ike Eastwood (was it nerves? )allowing the Macc. side to cross for a try and conversion after 1 minute. (7 pts.) Ike made up for this error with some strong driving running and then resulting in a try in the second half. He in fact enjoyed a good game after this unfortunate slip.

The game was proving to be tight in general with the much changed Vale XV keeping the ball close in, with a reluctance to spread it wide. Actually the Macc. XV were employing the same tactics and the game was moving into a stalemate as the strong defences from both sides were getting the upper hand. Close in work by the Vale front row of Ross Pillow, James Hesketh and Tom Needham were causing the Macc. side to defend desperately, Ross Pillow making a number of powerful moves.

The scrummaging at this stage was in fact overpowering from the Vale 8 driving the Macc. scrum back at each set piece. The scrum was locked solid by the second row of Steve Tagg and Louis Evans (is he improving week on week) and the effective back row of Dan Clare (he is everywhere), Dom Griffiths ( enjoying a sound game as Skipper) and Sam Wallbank were causing mayhem as they drove into the Macc. XV. Sam Wallbank making a number of breaks through the middle at pace but without support to link up at this stage.

It wasn’t until the 33rd minute that Jayden Reidar an elusive scrum half with no mean pace scored (5pts) for the points to take the score to 7pts to 5 pts for Macc. The conversion failed.

Close on 40 minutes and with extra time Referee Richard Beveridge enjoying a good game, signalling time off at most stoppages, allowed 4 minutes injury time to allow Jamie Antcliffe to cross for 5 points in this extra time, to take the Vale into the lead at 10 points to 7 points at the turn round. Jamie is becoming a powerful source in the centre of the park, and particularly today struck up a fine partnership in the middle with Joe Walmsley. A strong midfield duo…

The foraging Sam Wallbank crossed for a 5 pointer soon after the break to take the Vale to a reasonably comfortable lead. 15 pts to 7 pts. But with the Macc, scrummage by now competing equally with the Vale 8 after the Vale dominance in the first half the Vale side would need further scores to be safe.

It was at this stage that Ike Eastwood compensated for his early error to score with Joe Wills adding the 2 pts for the conversion. A blonde Joe had taken off as he finished last season with a controlled game at fly half. A gap was appearing as the Vale side began to involve their threequarters in the game with attempts to move the ball wide.

The Macclesfield XV were increasing the tempo and a try saving tackle from behind by Jordan Reider prevented a certain score. Paul Peters as manager rang the changes and Connor Cook (does he enjoy his rugby) Ben Nelson and Kieron Sharples entered the fray. With the game being particularly tight and understandably so looking at the League table, wingers Jake Elderton and Archie Watson weren’t given much time or space to show their paces but both contributed fully to the game which would take the Vale XV clear at the top of Division One.

It was later in the game that Macc. scored what was perceived to be the try of the game with their winger on the open side of the field breaking and showing immense pace to cross wideout on the distant side of the field. The Vale’s main field is indeed a huge pitch ….

In the closing stages and from a driving maul some 25 metres from the line the Vale 8 crossed for a deserved Ross Pillow try taking the score to 27pts to Vale, but Macc. were not finished and in the last minute of the extra time added on by Referee Richard Beveridge crossed for a 5 pointer.

The table shows the Vale XV clear at the top after an unbeaten run on 20 points but with a powerful Waterloo on the horizon next Saturday they know they will be in for a real genuine test if they are to maintain this most successful start to the season.

The Vale XV

15. Ike Eastood

14. Archie Watson

13, Joe Walmsley

12. Jamie Antcliffe

11. Jake Elderton

10. Joe Willis

9. Jayden Reidar

1. Tom Needham

2. James Hesketh

3. Ross Pillow

4. Louis Evans