Victory was achieved in the eightieth minute of a hard fought physical, but fair Conference B fixture, when centre Toby Holt crossed for an unconverted try. Toby was drafted into the squad after the news was received that the third's fixture at Leigh had been called off because their opponents were unable to raise a side; he swapped his warm seat in the mini bus for a changing room bench and a role in the pre match warm up.

Again the Vale were forced to make changes from the side that had played at Stockport the previous week; fielding a settled side week on week has been a massive problem throughout the season and this had been reflected in the high number of players, 89, who have represented the seconds.

During the game a first half an injury to prop Matt Field resulted in the scrums being uncontested and a second half injury to the experienced Aaron Melville caused further redistribution of resources.

Vale were fired up from the kick off, perhaps too much adrenalin was pumping around, because skipper Dan Rainford was shown an early yellow card. Chester took full advantage of the situation to compress the Vale. It was backs to the wall and all hands on the pumps for the home side to keep their line intact.

The dynamic Danny Lin somehow ripped the ball away and carry it off to safety. Chester's lively threequarters always posed a threat while their huge second row, strong and quick, was more than a handful for the defenders.

But the Vale refused to buckle and in the twentieth minute Aaron Melville made amends for an earlier miss when he put over a penalty in the twentieth minute.

When the scrums became uncontested Chester's threequarters came more and more into the game and in the thirty fourth minute they broke through for an unconverted try to complete the first half scoring.

Aaron Melville kicked a fifty first penalty goal to give his side a slender one point lead but this was quickly wiped out two minutes later when Chester's rampaging lock made his presence felt on his way to a converted try.

More changes were forced on the Vale when Aaron Melville took his leave of proceedings, but they did not appear to be unduly inconvenienced because in the fifty seventh minute Jamie Antcliffe lashed over a forty metre penalty.

When Chester missed a penalty from in front the game began to swing in the Vale's favour culminating with Toby Holt's match winning try. In the closing minutes Chester had a number of opportunities to close the game out but passes were dropped or wrong options chosen.

It was most satisfying outcome for the Vale because on Chester's last visit in October they had hammered the Vale, 69-10. Without a doubt it has been a challenging season for the seconds but they have battled their way through adversity to achieve a credible position in Conference B.

Sam Hadlington was named man of the match but it must have been a tough call between Sam and the imperious Danny Lin. Scott Manning, in only his second game, proved capable of punching holes in Chester's defence. Joe Baldwin played with composure and authority when he replaced Aaron Melville, while Jordan Fearn was unlucky not to have featured on the list of scorers but when a foot strayed into touch it was spotted. But overall it was spirited team performance provided the backbone of a deserved victory.

For physio Leah Brear, who had a busy afternoon, it was her final game. Leah had become a popular, much appreciated, highly respected member of a small team that work so hard behind the scenes on a weekly basis. Everyone at the Vale wish Leah all the very best for the future; she will be missed but the second's victory provided her with the ideal leaving present.