After the disappointment of the defeat at Lymm the previous week Vale A came out with all guns blazing to dispatch Stockport in impressive style with the first 15 minutes of the game played with such pace and intensity Stockport simply could not deal with.
With the A team skipper Scott Manning not available the captaincy was handed to Sam Hadlington who has been a regular with the A team studying at Lancaster University
With three new players in the Vale ranks it was always going to be a testing fixture, particularly after the defeat the previous week. Jacques, Duclap and Birchall were making their first out for the A team with Farhi only his second. All impressed.
The opening try on 2 minutes was scored by Birchall after the full back to a pass on the half way line. A long jinking run with a shake of the hips sent defenders the wrong way and allowed him to coast over the line with ease
Vale forwards got on the score sheet in the 5th minute with and excellent passage of play by forwards and backs resulting in Stevens touching down from break down play 5 metres out
S.V.Hoare after 9 minutes scored the next try after some good approach work by the Vale pack and an explosive run from the back of a driving maul
Hoare scored his second after 25 minutes
Birchall claimed his second after 27 minutes with some excellent handling through the Vale threquarter line
Vale took their foot of the pedal and allowed Stockport some possession through their forwards. Some fantastic defence from Vale kept Stockport out. The Vale defence was excellent on the day – well organised and productive with some telling turnovers
All the conversions were missed in the first half. Half time score Vale 25 Stockport 0
Half time talk helped to re focus Vales play and the hard working number 8 Spavin cross the whitewash in the 42nd minute, followed in the 46th minute by Man of the Match Fellows who broke through the defensive ruck formation brilliantly to race 40 metres for a superbly taken try
Winger Dempsey scored the last of the Vales tries in the 67th minute. Stockport’s play was broken up on Vales 22 metre line; some quick interplay between forwards and backs put the winger into space for him to open the afterburners to power home from 35 metres out.
With the game firmly in the bag Vale allowed Stockport their only try in the 76th minute through their forwards who went back to basics and kept the ball tight and set up a good driving maul for their 9 to score.
This was a very pleasing performance off all the squad 1 to 18, with some real endeavour, spirit and determination from all Vale players. This will need repeating next week when Vale travel to Wilmslow, top of League B, who have won both their opening games away from home.
Vale Squad: J.Stevens,M.Field,A.Cowey,S.Hadlington(capt),H.Fellows,S.V.Hoare,I.Turton,F.Spavin,E.Duclap,A.Melville,A.Farhi,J.Antcliffe,O.Jacques,K.Dempsey,J.Birchal,R.Hodgson,M.Shaw, G.McSporran.
A big thank you to Tony Gilmour for the match report.