This Conference B fixture turned itself into the category of a game of two halves as the statistics confirm; the Vale leading 17-0 at half time only to lose the second stanza 13-0, much to the consternation of the Vale faithful.

After enjoining first half forward dominance changes were made in Vale's pack at the interval which allowed Rochdale's eight not only to pick up the gauntlet but slip it on far too easy for comfort.

However, the Vale forwards metaphorically rolled their sleeves up from the kick off and went to work at the coal face with a spring in their step. Their efforts secured a penalty which Kieron Doyle popped over in the eighth minute.

A power surge at scrum time had Rochdale slithering over their goal line, a situation that as exploited to the full by skipper Alex Morrison who grounded the ball in the twenty first minute, Jamie Antcliffe added the conversion.

Vale's forward ascendancy continued and the next recipient of their endeavours was scrum half Josh Whyke who sold a neat dummy to glide over, his try being converted by Jamie Antcliffe with seven minutes remaining of half that would have gladdened the hearts of all drawers of water and hewers of logs.

Seventeen points looked a useful lead on the scoreboard and Vale's overall control suggested there was more in the tank. Unfortunately there was a blockage in their carburettor and while the Vale stuttered Rochdale started to fire on all cylinders.

After four minutes Rochdale moved the ball wide for an unconverted try, followed three minutes later by a penalty goal from in front.

Suddenly the Vale began to creak and with Rochdale's experienced stand off starting to pull the strings the visitors' threat increased. The Vale were forced to hang on but their cause was helped by the number of dropped Rochdale passes in advantageous positions.

On the hour mark the Vale were ingloriously heaved over their own line as Rochdale posted a second try. With the sirens blaring the Vale restructured their scrum, some much needed stability returned. Rochdale continued to pose a threat but their alarming number of dropped passes presented the Vale with much appreciated, embossed, "get out jail" cards.

For the Vale, young prop Alex Preston enhanced his growing reputation, and after a magnificent first half, he was replaced at half time, but he immediately made his presence felt when he was hauled off the bench during the second half when the storm clouds were beginning to gather around the Vale. Tom Cvijanovic marked his return from injury with a typical all action performance and along with Isaac Turton formed an abrasive back row partnership.

Jordan Fearns made a number of threatening runs on the wing but the threequarters struggled to find any fluidity in a game that stretched the nerves to near breaking point as far as the Vale were concerned.