Vale of Lune seconds faced a Preston Grasshopper's back division bristling with pace, skill, unbounded energy and youthful exuberance, and a full back who appears destined for higher things; in fact all Preston's tries were scored by their threequarters. Conditions were perfect at The Lane for the visitors brand of rugby which on the day sparkled leaving the Vale chasing shadows for long periods in either half.

But the Vale remained chipper, they tackled themselves to a standstill, but like the previous meeting between the clubs in the final of the BEST Cup at the end of last season, the 'Hoppers prevailed.

Preston announced themselves early on in the game when they swooped on a Vale handling error to post a converted try. The opening exchanges suggested it would be a battle between the Vale's forwards and Preston's backs, this pattern was quickly established. Two tries followed in the seventh and sixteenth minutes, the latter being a score of sheer brilliance in its execution; both these tries were converted.

The tempo suited Preston's game plan and they went further ahead in the twenty fifth minute with an unconverted try. Gradually the Vale crept into the game as their forwards started to get their mitts on the ball and deny Preston the freedom of the green sward.

Vale continued to thwart Preston in the early stages of the second half but they were always vulnerable when possession was lost, any mistakes were regally punished. In the space of seven minutes Preston rattled in three converted tries and in the sixty seventh minute they brought up the half century with an unconverted try.

Despite having to make changes the Vale built up pressure on Preston and from a line out Adam Foxcroft drove over for an unconverted try in the seventy third minute. Late in the game Preston completed their demolition job with two more converted tries.

Vale battle hard throughout to stem the tide with Aaron Melville again using his wealth of experience to good effect with another stand out performance. Chris Thomas showed courage in face of relentless attacks down his wing, Jordan Fearn made a number of promising, brave runs, while new signing, Sam Hoare, proved hard to bring down as he picked up the pace of game and Adam Foxcroft worked extremely hard in the engine room. Skipper Dan Rainford urged all players to attend training, numbers are on the increase which in turn allows for more relevant and meaningful sessions to take place.

A Preston, G McSporran, O Cowey; A Foxcroft, D Rainford (Capt); J Moore, R Hodgson, A Yates. J Whyke, N Walker; C Thomas, J Antcliffe, A Melville, J Fearn; O Hamilton. Replacements: S Hoare, A Rich, P Brett-Smith.