Vale 2 have not made the ideal start in the Premier League but it must be remembered that they also started last season with a couple of defeats, so a squad containing a number of young emerging players with potential should not be too downhearted. It takes a while to adjust to new faces, patterns of play and the pace of the game at this level.

Again some players were unavailable for selection, either because of injury or unavailability while other were drafted into the first team squad for the fixture at Kendal. Overall the it might have been a disappointing out come against Sandbach but there were positives to build on and aspects to work at in training.

Sandbach took full advantage of Vale's slow start and trapped the hosts deep in their own half. After twelve minutes the visitors scrum half broke clear for a converted try. As the Vale struggled for continuity Sandbach went further ahead in the twenty first minute with an unconverted try that underlined the capricious nature of a bouncing rugby ball when a chasing flank forward pouched the break back.

The Vale came stuttering back into the game, the error count was reduced as players became more familiar with those around them. Prolonged pressure on Sandbach resulted in a penalty which Neil Walker duly despatched between the uprights in the twenty eighth minute.

Unfortunately Vale's revival was short lived because on the half hour mark Sandbach's number six galloped away from a line in his own twenty two. He was not alone on his foray downfield because on his elbow was a fellow player who he released at an opportune moment to complete a free flowing seven pointer.

This score took the wind out of the Vale's sails and they encountered further choppy conditions in the fifty second minute when their defence was split apart when they conceded an unconverted try.

To their credit the Vale put behind them these two scores and lifted their game to score a super try in the fifty fifth minute. Jamie Antcliffe instigated the attack with a powerful run deep into Sandbach's twenty two. The ball was moved to the right and in a blink of an eye transferred to the left. An overlap situation created for Chris Thomas to touch down for an unconverted try, but the last word belonged to Sandbach as they rounded off the game with a classy unconverted try.

Throughout the contest the Vale tried desperately hard but Sandbach were fully alert to all their endeavours and were quick to pounce on an errors or moments when Vale's concentration wavered. Tom Cvijanovic was again the pick of Vale's side, a non stop, totally committed performance, but there were eye catching contributions from Archie Rich, Jordan Fearn, Kyel Dempsey and Chris Thomas, while replacement, the ageless Aaron Melville, produced another cameo performance.

Vale 2: A Preston, G McSporran, O Cowey; D Rainford (Capt), A Rich; T Cvijanovic, J Williams, J Moore. J Whyke, N Walker; K Dempsey, L Birchall, J Antcliffe, C Thomas; O Harrington. Replacements: J Hodgkinson, J Fearn, S Melville.