There was a huge sense of disappointment following the seconds defeat at Lymm because at half time they were within touching distance of the home side’s 14-7 lead. Unfortunately early in the second half they were guilty of conceding a couple of needless penalties and despite staging a fight back during the second stanza they were unable to make up the deficit.
However, these mistakes were overshadowed by a serious injury to Matt Shaw in the first half. Due to a lack of a Vale physio Matt, who was badly concussed, was treated by Lymm’s physio who was quickly on the scene along with another medic. While Matt was being made comfortable, Ryan Fawcett contacted Matt’s wife and father and later in the afternoon, when Matt’s condition had stabilized, they were able to take him home.
Vale would like to express their thanks to the prompt action of Lymm’s physio and a nurse who volunteered her help, plus Ryan’s actions in contacting the family. It is a cause of concern for the club being unable to recruit a suitably qualified physio to assist with all teams.
Also, later in the game Andy Garnett suffered a badly gashed forehead which forced him to leave the action.
Before these disruptions occurred the seconds made a bright, promising opening, they looked sharp despite being out of action the previous week due to the no show of Wilmslow.
The early promise shown gradually petered out for the visitors and in the ninth minute Lymm’s centre waltzed his way through Vale’s cover for a converted try.
Lymm went further ahead as the first quarter was drawing to a close with a controversial try wide out on the right which was converted by the number ten with a beautiful kick.
Vale started to play on the front foot as the pack began to exert control with the back row of Andy Garnett, Fraser Spavin and Sam Hoare creating mayhem and uncertainty in the home side’s ranks.
From a line out in Lymm’s twenty two a perfectly executed catch and drive drew in the defenders as the point of the attack moved infield. Once Sam Hoare has the line in his sights he is a difficult player halt. He spotted the slightest of an opening to plunge over for his try which Jamie Antcliffe converted from in front in the twenty eighth minute.
The injury to Matt Shaw caused a long delay on the resumption Vale were awarded a penalty but Jamie Antcliffe was off target.
Two avoidable second half penalties increased Lymm’s lead which was added too when a hesitant Vale defence failed to clear the danger which allowed Lymm to post another converted try.
A twenty point deficit appeared quite a mountain to climb for a pick and mix selection but their revival began when Adam Macluskie confidently battled his way over on the fifty eighth minute which Jamie Antcliffe converted.
Vale’s perseverance resulted in another try with fifteen minute remaining when the bouncy Taylor Mills darted over for an unconverted try.
A passage of slack play in Vale’s defence allowed Lymm to collect a rather fortunate unconverted try in the seventy fourth minute.
There was a nod in the direction of the Harlem Globetrotters in the build up to Vale’s final try in the seventy sixth minute. The ball was pinged around in a fashion that would have been more at home on a basket ball court. Eventually the hard working Joe Stevens brought things down to earth when he seized the ball to power his way over for a try calmly converted by Richard Hodgson who stroked the ball over.
A converted try now separated the two sides and the Vale endeavoured to carve out the winning score but were unable to fully capitalise on some late opportunities.
For the Vale, scrum half Taylor Mills was his usual busy self, Matt Shaw, before his injury and his partner in the second row Matt Field, worked hard around the paddock. Tom Rogers made a number of exciting runs, while the formidable back row combination did their upmost to keep the Vale in contention.