The seconds opened their Conference B programme at Beechwood but two late Lymm penalties, in the 71st and 78th minutes respectively resulted in the Vale returning from Cheshire empty handed and hugely disappointed.
Although Lymm fielded a sharp back division the Vale’s forwards proved to be a powerful uncompromising unit with Alex Cowey a formidable prop on his return after injury. A back row of Rhys Randal, Fraser Spavin and Alex Baines were a competitive disruptive, abrasive trio. Scrum half Oli Dobson was in the thick of action, daring hither and thither, while centre Josh Lancaster was steady throughout but Vale certainly missed their influential skipper, Scott Manning, who was forced off with an injury after ten minutes.
Vale battled hard in the opening exchanges; fully alert to the dangers posed by Lymm’s threequarters and despite losing their leader, effectively held the home side at arm’s length. The breakthrough for the hosts came in the 25th minute when the Vale failed to spot the danger signs when Lymm’s number nine broke clear in a move that ended with the open side flanker touching down for a converted try.
It took the Vale a while to put this set back behind them but once they began to play to their forward strength Lymm were pushed onto the back foot. From a well orchestrated maul Fraser Spavin peeled away for an unconverted try in the 31st minute.
Just as the Vale had hauled themselves back into contention they gave away a soft try when trying to clear the ball from their own twenty two. As the Vale fumbled around the ball was spilled, a Lymm centre could hardly believe his luck and seized the opportunity with both hands to collect the simplest of tries which was converted in the 34th minute.
Stand off Aaron Melville, after sorting out the problems with the kicking tee, plonked over a penalty goal in the 38th minute. Just before half time the Vale took the lead. Again the forwards did all the furniture shifting and while Lymm were tied down Alex Baines powered over, Aaron Melville added the conversion.
Early in the second half Lymm ran a repeat of the Vale debacle when they also coughed up the pill, followed by some untidy handling as they tried to move the ball in a dangerous position. Winger Khaizir Aziz, who was taking more than a passing interest in the unfolding slapstick, calmly snapped up the loose ball to dash away for an unconverted try.
Lymm cut the deficit in the 58th minute with an unconverted try after the Vale had been forced to absorb prolonged pressure in their twenty two.
Three minutes later Vale’s adventure and spirit in taking the game to Lymm was rewarded when Matt Field completed a flowing attack with an unconverted try to give his side a six point lead.
But the potential within the home side’s back division could never be ignored and in the 66th minute they unleashed their power which unfortunately exposed some weak Vale tackling in a move that ended with the left winger touching down for an unconverted try.
Defending a single point lead is an onerous, nerve jangling assignment but to their credit the Vale rose to the challenge, resolutely manning the barricades until the two late penalties dashed their hopes.