Report by Fred Swarbrick.

Vale XV.

Tom Greaves
James Hesketh
Robbie Skelton
Josh Mitton
Isaac Thornton
Tom Miller
Isaac Turton
Adam Foxcroft ©
Ollie Wilso Sheridan
Jamie Antcliffe
Connor Kyraicco
Ryan Fawcett
Ben Parkinson
Jake Wilson
Ben Dobson
Josh Sloanalowif
Rory Briggs

Over the years the Vale have played Stockport with varying outcomes in many cases losing at home but gaining some comfortable victories when visiting their ground away at Headlands Road. Hopefully this will occur again in the current season !!

At the present time the Stockport XV are enjoying a successful run in this League and after 4 fixtures are unbeaten and top the table. “Note at the present time”. In fact the Vale side and indeed their 3rd XV were both facing two sides who were both unbeaten at the present time.

The Stockport side were a blend of old experienced heads and a number of younger speedy players, in fact you could say the Vale side was in many, ways similar. Three of the most experienced players in the Vale side Adam Foxcroft who was Skipper and, great to see back, Jamie Antcliffe and James Hesketh were to provide their experience in the spheres they operate i.e. forwards and threequarters. Adam driving continually into the midst of the Stockport defence and Jamie using any space provided to spread the ball to his threequarter line. All three of them are vital components of this side !!

It was clear that the Vale eight were going to exert some control in the set pieces, James Hesketh has so much know how in this sphere of the game, and the Vale 8 were continually driving the Stockport scrum backwords. With Tom Greaves and Robbie Skelton in support of Heskie they were to provide a solid front row combination.

Play anywhere Josh Mitton and Isaac Thornton were to provide a tight unit with them locking the scrum solidly. In the back row Tom Miller, Isaac Turton and Skipper Adam F. were operating well in both defence and attack. The tight phases of the game were proving to be successful as the game progressed. In fact the Stockport XV did not enter the Vale half of the field for possibly the first 20 minutes of the first half. The Vales control was there to see.

At a lineout 5 yards out (yes, I still work in yards) the Vale won the ball and with all eight involved they crossed the Stockport line allowing Hesky to touch down. Vale 5 pts Stockport 0 points.

The Game then moved through a calm phase if that’s what you might call it, as it moved towards half time. Benjamin Graveston Referee was keeping a tight grip on the game and in many ways his whistling seemed to interrupt any likely moves. The game was completely safe under his control…..

After their unsteady start the Stockport XV were showing some control and were now in fact moving into the Vale half of the field. An unsettled scrum, allowed them to take the ball against the head and they scored their first try.

Ollie W.S. was as he does enjoying a good game at scrum half, he is a must in the side, providing Jamie Ants with some good ball. Any possible devious passes, when Ollie was put under pressure, were expertly picked up by Jamie. Outside Jamie, Ryan Fawcett -good to see him playing again- and his partner Ben Parkinson were operating well in the middle.

The Stockport XV were beginning to get some control after their hesitant start and were displaying the reasons as to why they are riding high in this Daniel Baines League. A mixture of pace and control was beginning to cause the Vale some problems. It wasn’t long before a slick move spread the Vale defence and they crossed the vale line once again. !0 pts to 5 pts to Stockport…

Wingers Connor Kyraicco and Jake Wilson were receiving limited ball to use their undoubted pace but both were exhibiting their defensive qualities and necessarily so, as the Stockport XV began to exert some control.

They were to cross for a further try to take them into a 10 point lead as the halftime whistle arrived. All conversions had failed.

The half time whistle arrived and at the commencement of the second half there appeared a complete change of fortunes. The Stockport XV starting to move the ball wide using their speedy threequarters. Where was this in the first half. ??

Some well placed kicks into the Vales open spaces were cleaned up expertly by Vales Ben Dobson who was enjoying a good game from full back. In defence safe, and making some probing attacks at pace – real pace – into the Stockport defence. Ben in my opinion deserved the accolade as M.O.M.

With the control the Stockport XV were now producing, it was causing the Vale XV problems. Still the Vale were equalling the Stockport 8 in the tight phases of the game. Rory Briggs and Josh Sloanawif moved onto the field. Ryan Fawcett accepting a breather with his being his first game. Hopefully he will be there next week. !!

By this time the Stockport XV were in command and the score gap was increasing. Adam Foxcroft had suffered a shoulder injury limiting his driving attacks. He will be O.K. next Saturday !!!

The score had moved beyond the Vales reach but as last Saturday there was no way heads were going to drop. Josh Sloanidriff (apologies didn’t and haven’t got your name correct ) along with Rory were providing more energy into the Vale side but unable to stop the, now speedy Stockport threequarters. Rory was displaying some useful kicks – straight out of the Alex Briggs rule book - putting the side into some useful positions, but the Stockport side by now had controlled the game and were to continue their unbeaten start to the season.

Next week another unbeaten side to face in Eagle Warrington. Is this a first meeting of an Eagle side on Vales Fixture list ?? Please put your names up for selection as we move into a difficult part of the season. We really need a settled reliable side ………

F.S.