Worryingly the seconds travelled to take on top of Conference B, Preston Grasshoppers thirds, with only fifteen players, five having been recruited at short notice from Lancaster University by Tony Gilmour. The Team Manger was visibly annoyed that he could not face Hoppers with a squad of eighteen players despite the third team not having a fixture on the day.
His exasperation at not being able to bolster the team with those players who were kicking their heels and twiddling their thumbs underlined a growing trend that is creeping into the game; perhaps it is a sign of the times when for such a short journey down the M6 to Preston a full squad could not be raised.
It must not be forgotten that Tony Gilmour has worked tirelessly for the club in general and the seconds in particular over many seasons to ensure fixtures are fulfilled even under the most extreme circumstances; his experience and influence is going to be missed when he hangs up his mobile and snaps shut his book of contacts at the end of the season.
A shortage of players was reflected in Gus McSporran being asked to play at prop; this big hearted player never took a backward step up even though he was up against a gargantuan opponent. Later in the game Aaron Melville picked up an injury but because the Vale could ill afford to play on with only fourteen players he hobbled his way through to the final whistle rather than let his mates down.
Hoppers’ game plan was quickly unveiled, keep it tight, grind down the opposition and collect the bounty at the end. Certainly these tactics worked to perfection in the opening exchanges because in the eighth minute, after a thundering run by the left winger who looked from his physique that he would not look out of place in the scrum had softened up Vale’s defence sufficiently for the number eight to snap up a loose ball and touch down for a converted try.
Three minutes later Hoppers turned up the boost dial, this time their number seven picked up to dive over for another converted try.
Gradually the Vale brought some stability to the proceedings and managed to edge out of the red zone but it took graft and determination to do so. Vale’s mobile forwards drove deep into Hoppers’ territory. In the twenty seventh minute Vale’s application resulted in prop Joe Stevens touching down for an hard earned try converted by Aaron Melville to complete the first half scoring.
The Vale had the biting wind in their favour in the second half but they were never able to make life too uncomfortable for Hoppers who refused to alter their agenda, but the visitors never took a backward step.
Hoppers posted their final converted try in the sixty third minute following a long passage of sustained forward power.
But the Vale were far from finished, even after being subjected to merciless forward pounding. When Aaron Melville stabbed a kick through scrum half Papa de La Sieara was onto the ball in as flash to outpace the opposition for a try converted by Aaron in the sixty ninth minute. The number nine proved to be a most elusive player as was full back Maxine Chevot.
With five minutes remaining Vale narrowed the gap with a well taken try from Bobby Holbrook, another Vale player who gave his all, but Hoppers closed ranks, tucked the ball up the jumper to deny the Vale any opportunity of grabbing the points.
It was a battling performance from the Vale with hooker Richard Hodgson in the thick of the actions were Sam Hoare, Fraser Spavin and Isaac Turton, while the imaginative pairing of Matt Field and Matt Shaw in the centre quickly settled. However, considering the numerical limitations, all the player’s efforts should be applauded to the rafters.