Thanks to the recruiting efforts of Tony Gilmour, the seconds were able to travel to Sandbach with a 17 player squad to face a club that had inflicted a 29-8 defeat on them in September.

In windy conditions the Vale fell behind in the fifteenth minute when the home side kicked a penalty, followed three minutes later with an unconverted try, Sandbach's right winger exposing some below par Vale tackling in the build up.

After such an ominous opening the Vale had to rethink their approach and game plan. As the newcomers began to settle in it was obvious, from some of the early exchanges, that the visitor's forwards had an edge.

Vale's first try came straight out of the forward's handbook. From a line out in Sandbach's twenty two Tom Cvijanovic clamped his hands on the ball and drove towards the goal line. He was not alone in his quest, his fellow forwards joined the party but it was Sam Hoare who claimed the prize; Aaron Melville put over the conversion in the twenty fourth minute.

This score lifted the Vale, their back row began to create havoc, while the front five more than held their own in all areas. Half backs, Josh Whyke and Aaron Melville, were fully aware of the unfolding pattern and ably managed affairs outside the scrum as the Vale stormed back into the game.

Tom Crookall, revelling in the hurly burly and physicality of the close quarter exchanges in the back row, sent opposition players reeling on his way to an unconverted try in the thirty fourth minute.

The final try of the half had a number of players and supporters rubbing their eyes in disbelief when full back Wayne Blythe not only went to join the "big boys" but scored a try, a real claim to fame. This "honorary forward's" try was converted by Aaron Melville in the second minute of injury time.

Vale began the second half in a confident mood and deservedly so. They were executing their tactics to perfection and while the backs could only watch and wait, the forwards carried on where they had left off before the interval.

In the fiftieth Sam Hoare charged over from forty metres, his try being converted by the metronomic boot of Aaron Melville. Not to be outdone by Sam's solo, Tom Crookall broke away in his own twenty two and with legs pumping and lungs fair bursting he made it to the try line. Aaron Melville again converted in the sixty third minute to complete Vale's scoring.

Sandbach mauled their way over for a late consolation, converted try but the day belonged to the Vale thanks to the overtime put in by Tony Gilmour before the team's arrival at Bradwall Road.

Overall it was a most encouraging performance from the Vale, in particular from their new recruits. Sam Hoare, who was denied a hat trick when the referee had spotted an infringement in the build up, Tom Crookall and Tom Cvijanovic formed a combative trio in the back row. Sam Hadington had an excellent came and Matthew Mount impressed in a contest where effort and enterprise were rewarded to take the Vale into second place in Conference B.