Two late converted Caldy tries gave the final score line a rather lop sided look because with the game moving into its closing minutes and the visitors leading 33-28 the result was still up for grabs. However, unbeaten Caldy, applied tremendous pressure to preserve their record, their fourteen point haul removing all doubt about the outcome and in doing so dashing all Vale's hopes of securing a dramatic victory.
Despite the defeat the Vale produced a magnificent confidence boosting performance, packed with individual commitment from start to finish. The Vale's never say die approach made Caldy work hard for their win.
Once again the Vale's line up showed changes from the previous week but there were some familiar names to be found on the team sheet, plus a scattering of newcomers to their ranks.
In the pack prop Matt Field and hooker Richard Hodgson more than held their own against a strong Caldy pack, with Richard taking one ball against the head. Replacement prop John Hodgkinson brought extra stability to the scrum when he joined the action.
Second rowers Sam Hadlington and Steve McDonald, although confronted by a formidable duo, played with the upmost dedication and resolve. Sam Hoare, at number eight, once again set a high standard for his comrades and his excellent run of form continues.
Stand off Kieron Doyle was at his composed and authoritative best to ensure the Vale remained in contention for long periods. Scrum half Taylor Mills produced another accomplished performance, a real live wire in all departments.
Jamie Antcliffe cemented his return with a powerful contribution, his fellow centre Brett Robinson never shirked a tackle, while skipper Scott Manning led by example at full back.
Vale shot away to the perfect start and after eight minutes had established a fourteen point lead. The opening try came after two minutes when Jamie Antcliffe shrugged off tackles before slipping the ball to Scott Manning who raced between the posts, Kieron Doyle slotted the conversion.
Six minutes later Matt Field set off on an angled run to split Caldy's defence for a prop's try to savour, something to tell the children about; Kieron Doyle again converted.
This Vale onslaught was not in Caldy's script and was definitely a shock to their system but with their forwards rolling up their sleeves and bending their backs to the wheel, they registered a try in the in the nineteenth minute.
Although it was never going to be a walk in the park for the Vale against such illustrious opponents they did let Caldy into the game when in the space of a couple of minutes both Dave Harrison and Bob Mudd were sent to the sin-bin. For the first of the double yellows Caldy were awarded a penalty try and in the blink of an eye Vale's lead was down to two points in the twenty fourth minute.
Further punishment was dished out to the Vale via two charged down kicks in the thirtieth and thirty seventh minutes respectively when Caldy plundered a further fourteen points.
The first half set backs did not blunt the Vale's ardour or curb their enthusiasm because they boldly took the game to Caldy and slowly stated to chip into their lead.
In the forty fifth minute Kieron Doyle kicked a penalty goal, followed by a second in the forty seventh and then a drop goal in the fifty first to bring his side to within three points of Caldy's total.
A lapse in concentration and some missed tackles were punished by Caldy's winger who raced sixty metres for a converted try in the fifty fifth minute.
But the Vale were far from finished because in the fifty seventh minute Jonny Murray followed up his own chip ahead to dive on the ball for an unconverted try.
This score brought the Vale tantalisingly close to causing a major upset but Caldy summoned up all their experience to secure victory with two converted tries in the seventy ninth and eighty second minutes at the conclusion of what had been a hard fought, thriller on the Crem pitch, and well worth the trek from the clubhouse.