A number of players and supporters who were disappointed when the Vale of Lune’s first team North One West fixture at Leigh was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, decided to take in the second team’s game at Powderhouse Lane where they were treated to a highly entertaining eight try thriller constructed around an impressive team performance.
The seconds put the Wilmslow’s Vikings to the sword on their way to a victory that moves them further away from the fetid waters of the relegation zone in Conference B and although they entertain bottom club, Rochdale, at The Lane on Saturday, kick off 2.15 pm., they cannot afford to rest on their laurels. Following the Rochdale fixture the Vale will be facing clubs currently above the in the table, Preston Grasshoppers 3 at home Firwood Waterloo away, and Lymm 2 at home, all sides who have beaten the Vale in the Conference.
Wilmslow made all the early running as the Vale struggled to put any structure to their game with the visitors taking full advantage of Vale’s fragmented start with an unconverted try in the eighth minute after dominating all the early exchanges.
Gradually the Vale started to gain parity, they increased the tempo and in the fifteenth minute they drew level. Winger Maxine Chevot completed a sharp handling crossfield move for an unconverted try. Unfortunately this exciting player was spotted hobbling around the clubhouse on crutches after suffering an earlier injury; a possible setback for this Lancaster University player has made an instant impact since joining having scored three tries in his last three games.
Another player, flanker Bobby Holdbrook, who has also caught the eye, came more and more into the game and with the forwards blending into a cohesive, powerful and mobile unit the Vale began to gain the high ground with ball being moved fluently between forwards and backs.
As the game moved into the closing ten minutes the Vale’s dominance began to show. In the thirty first minute lock Dan Rainford spearhead an assault on Wilmslow’s defences with a thundering run. All the forwards responded to his charge, his fellow lock Sam Hadlington, another player who has given his all throughout the season, touched down for an unconverted try.
Three minutes later the Vale went further ahead with a quicksilver attack which featured a scything break from centre Jimmy Birchall and ended with skipper full back Scott Manning sprinting between the posts for a try converted by scrum half Ben Dorrington.
However, in the final move of an engrossing half Wilmslow caught the Vale dozing when from a quickly taken tap penalty, their cover was blown resulting in an unconverted slick try, wide out.
In the forty second minute the Vale added their fourth try when Matt Field, what a find he has become since relinquishing his duties in the front row to become a resident threequarter, touched down. Bobby Holdbrook set the move in motion, Ben Dorrington delivered a polished pass to Matt Field to open up space, and Ben Dorrington added the conversion.
Confidence flowed throughout the Vale; they were busy in all the key areas and were not afraid to express themselves when an opportunity presented itself which it did in the fifty first minute for Ben Dorrington who wriggled his way out of tackles and paddy-whacked his way over for a try which he converted.
Vale’s forwards mauled their way to the line dragging in more Vikings with each metre gained on a beautifully prepared playing surface. Wing forward Ben Charnley was perfectly positioned as his fellow forwards waltzed their way merrily to the line to collect a try converted by Ben Dorrington in the fifty fifth minute.
A Wilmslow attack which broke down in Vale’s half only acted as a springboard for a rip roaring Vale counter. The ball was moved efficiently through many hands in a move that was climaxed with a Ben Dorrington try which he converted as the game edged into its final quarter.
The final try was scored for the Vale by winger Khaizir Aziz who bravely battled his way over for an unconverted try in the seventieth minute. Wilmslow searched in vain for consolation points in the closing stages but the Vale’s defence held firm in what had been a most absorbing and entertaining game sprinkled with many little gems plus a number of highly polished ingots.

Match report filed by Stuart Vernon.