The Vale XV :-

Tom Needham
Owen Branford
Freddie Bartle
Louis Evans
Adrian Turner
Paul Scott
Dan Clare
Luke Shepherd
Adam Dalton
Jacob Thomas ©
Jordan Fern
Joe Walmsley
Richard Dewar
Callum Munro
Harrison Dodge
Ike Eastwood

The Vale 2nd XV were riding high in the Baines Plumbing Division One League before todays encounter with Broughton Park. Historically Vale/ Broughton Park games have always produced the most competitive of games. Todays was to be in line with past games.
Vale with a number of changes from the previous two games where victories had taken them to the top of the League. Could they maintain this remarkable situation.??
The Broughton Park XV were out preparing early on and looking very competitive as they went through their warm up routines.
The Vale XV experienced a number of changes following last week’s victory versus Tarleton put all in, in a vigorous warm up and were set in the right frame of mind to take on a strong Broughton Park XV.
The game kicked off with the Broughton Park side using their forwards to great effect. The Vale side were under severe pressure but defensively were working hard to contain this initial surge by the Park XV.
The front row of Tom Needham, Owen Bradford and young Freddie Bartle were working well in the front row. Louis Evans, who was to enjoy a great game from second row, and Adrian Turner who put in a full shift were providing tremendous strength from the powerhouse to hold up the Park scrummage.
The back row of Dan Clare, Luke Shepherd and Paul Scott were covering any breaks and halting them close to the base. Dan Clare was enjoying a most energetic game and apart from his work up front was mixing it with the Park XV in all quarters.
Scrum half Adam Dalton was looking calm at the base and helped, certainly on our put in by some powerful scrummaging against what was a bigger set of forwards. Park opened the scoring with a try and a conversion but within 5 minutes the Vale were awarded a penalty by Referee Simon Keeley and Jacob Thomas converted to take the score to 7 points to 3 points at 30 minutes to Park.
At this point a re-invigorated Vale XV took the game to Park, centre Joe Maudsley making a powerful break through the middle fed to wing Jordan Fern who scored on the posts. The reliable boot of Jacob T. converted. With half time looming. 10 pts to 7 to the Vale.
The Park side were not done and the spectators felt that they had a score in them to complete the half and it came after pressure on the Vale line. A 7 pointer to take the score to 14 points to 10 points at 38 minutes into the half, to Park.
Paul Peters the manager of the day pulled the Vale side in at the half time talk and Vale came out fighting – not literally although there was a “scuffle” – and again Joe Maudsley made a strong break through the middle to score close in with Jacob Thomas adding the 2 points. 17 pts to 14 points to Vale.
Richard Dewar outside Joe Maudsley was playing his usual game a strong foraging player, always difficult to stop. Callum Munro on the wing enjoyed a steady game standing in for Harrison Dodge who with the numerous changes necessary had taken up the position of fullback. He made two or three darting breaks illustrating his undoubted pace but last minute - shirt pulling - tackles prevented any progress.
At this stage and with Park pressing, Jordan Fern broke away in the middle and scored under the posts with Jacob T. converting to take the score to 24 pts to 14 pts in Vales favour.
The Park XV were not to be outdone and it certainly felt they could cause trouble for this good Vale XV. After some scrappy play on the Vale line they crossed for a 5 pointer the conversion failing, but this took them within reach of the Vale lead at 24 points to 19 points.
From the K.O. the Vale were awarded a penalty by Referee Simon Keeley, who was enjoying a good game, but struggling with a muscle injury from the first half, just within kicking distance. Skipper Jacob T. decided to go for goal knowing that three points from a successful kick would take the need for the Park side to score twice. It was successful !!!
At this stage Vale were competing successfully and a further two penalties from the boot of Skipper Jacob Thomas closed the game down at 33 points to 19 points.
Vale maintaining their unbeaten run to three games and keeping their position at the top of this most competitive Baines Plumbing Division One.
It is difficult to pick out a M.O.M. there were a number of lads who enjoyed fine games. The front row as a unit, Dan Clare in the back row who was simply everywhere. Louis Evans taking many balls in the line out. Jordan Fern showing his undoubted experience both attacking and particularly defence. Adrian Turner making some forceful breaks into the heart of the Park side, a good player.
Shouldn’t pick out personalities lads it really was a great performance by all, with a number playing out of their normal positions.
Three out of three with the crunch to come next week where a strong Macclesfield XV will be with us to test us, also unbeaten at this stage of the season….