The Seconds excellent run of form continued with a pleasing team performance in terrible conditions in a contest that was abandoned with twelve minutes remaining due to the rising water levels on the Crem pitch which threatened to drag man and ball under, but because the game had passed the hour mark the result stands.
It was a solid performance from the forwards with once again the front five being most effective and with the guiding hand of Andy Garnett much in evidence a strong platform was built. Al Crookall, on his return to the colours, formed a productive pairing with Rhys Randall in the second row, while in the back row James Robinson and Mark Walker were combative throughout.
As was to be expected it was not a day for the threequarters to give full rein to their skills but wingers Kyel Dempsey and Jordan Fern posed a constant threat with their ability to glide effortlessly over the gluey surface at pace. Alex Briggs kicked intelligently to keep the Vale moving forward despite the swirling wing and Taylor Mills at scrum half made a busy and tidy contribution.
Vale’s forwards quickly set their stall and carried on in the same mood as the previous week. Rochdale found themselves trapped deep in their twenty two, prop Aiden Yates took full advantage of their discomfort to batter his way over for an unconverted try in the fourth minute.
Skipper Scott Manning added a second try four minutes later which was converted by Alex Briggs. A fired up Vale side went further ahead when Jordan Fern raced over, his try being converted by Alex Briggs from wide out in the tenth minute.
The Vale had the roadmap for victory very much within their sights and when Aiden Yates touched down for an unconverted try in the sixteenth minute the Vale were cruising. Unfortunately they took their eyes off the road, let their hands slip off the wheel and allowed Rochdale the opportunity to score a converted try.
The Vale soon regained control and following an exciting passage of rugby, which made a mockery of the conditions, ended with Al Crookall breaking powerfully through for an unconverted try in the twenty fourth minute.
Against the run of play Rochdale scored another converted try as the Vale drifted once more into cruise control just before half time.
Changes were made in Vale’s line up at half time and they put points on the board in the forty first minute when the flying Kyel Dempsey sprinted over for an unconverted try.
With the pitch beginning to churn up Kyle Dempsey found some firm ground to chase down a kick ahead to score another fleet footed try which Alex Briggs converted in the fifty sixth minute. This was followed by a deserved try from Mark Walker, with his score coming ahead of another converted gift try for Rochdale.
Kyel Dempsey collected his hat trick in the sixty first minute which Alex Briggs converted and in the final move of the game Kyel Dempsey showed a far from clean pair of heels to the opposition for his fourth before referee Matthews brought the curtain down on a two part opera for mudlarks.

Not at all a day for open rugby but both these clubs have a reputation for running rugby and even a so called “Weather Bomb” was not going to force them to change their ways. Of course it would be foolish and suicidal just ping the ball about willy-nilly, commonsense suggested that such a tactic would be a guaranteed route to disaster but neither side tucked the ball up their jerseys and employed a one dimensional forward game; it was all hugely entertaining and a credit to both sets of players and referee Damian Hamilton.
With the anemometer spinning on its axis and the gale blowing straight down the pitch from the clubhouse it was tailor made for the old cliché of a game of two halves, to be trotted out; and so it came to pass.
Wilmslow had first use of wind and although their supporters admitted afterwards that a half time lead of 17-12 was not sufficient in the circumstances.
The visitors were the first to open the scoring with a penalty goal from stand-off and skipper Bob MacCallum in the third minute but the Vale replied in the eleventh minute with a converted try. Following a period of intense forward pressure deep in Wilmslow’s twenty two and with Evan Stewart firmly in the mix, prop Jack Ferguson celebrated his up-coming birthday with a try converted by Damon Hall.
Vale’s lead only lasted three minutes because Wilmslow used their forwards to good effect and churned their way to a try for hooker Alex Donaldson which Bob MacCallum converted with an immaculate kick.
Wilmslow tested the Vale’s defence while any Vale counter always posed a threat in an opening twenty minutes of intense, absorbing rugby which contained gritty passages of play enlivened by a willingness from both camps, to move the ball wide.
In the twenty sixth minute the Vale produced a score that brought the soggy Vale section of the crowd to their feet. Damon Hall took a quick tap penalty in his own half, Evan Stewart carried on the move before Jordan Dorrington, who had missed the last three games with injury, came hurtling into the line around the half way mark. He set off on a solo fifty metre weaving run, first across the field, then he stepped back inside before darting to the right again, all being progressed at high speed. The remaining Wilmslow defenders were twisted in all directions before he put them out of their misery by scuttling over the line for an unconverted try that will live long in the memory. A real Scarlet Pimpernel moment.
With seven minutes remaining Wilmslow took full advantage of gaps in Vale’s defence which full back Ben Day profited, collecting a try converted by Bob MacCallum.
Both sets of players sought the sanctuary of the changing rooms at half time and following the restart the Vale were firmly camped in Wilmslow territory. The expected score came in the forty ninth minute. Stand-off Ben Dorrington launched a huge kick crossfield, Damon Hall carefully shepherded the ball just inside the field of play, and while defenders hesitated, expecting the ball to go into touch, the right winger deftly swept up the ball for his try which he converted with a massive kick from wide out.
This score had the stand rocking and almost before the foot stomping had died down Damon Hall scored again. He hacked the ball downfield an outpaced the chasers for the try which he converted. Two tries in quick succession were body blows for the visitor’s aspirations.
Wilmslow might have been reeling after these two score but they came back strongly forcing the Vale on the defensive but with the Vale’s pack solid and resolute the line remained intact and it was so easy to lift any siege with well directed kicks downfield which put the Vale firmly on the front foot.
As the game moved into the closing ten minute the Vale’s grip tightened. Jonty Higgin made a strong surge, the tackling was ferocious as Wilmslow became trapped and just to make sure that there would be no revival a drenched Damon Hall kicked a penalty as further insurance in the seventy first minute.
Harry Fellows, who made a major contribution to the cause set off on a powerful drive, while Damon Hall took shelter behind Vale’s touch judge. The Vale held the whip hand and in the seventy fourth minute Sam Wallbank broke off the base of a solid scrum to saunter over for an unconverted try with consummate ease.
Damon Hall collected his hat trick when he again kicked the ball low between defenders and was the first on the scene to dive on the ball and slalom his way over in a cloud of spray, surfboard style, for a try in the seventy seventh minute which he converted; cue more heavy metal noises and head banging from the shaking stand. Where was Meat Loaf when you needed him? Out on his motorbike no doubt!
On a fine day the plaudits and bouquets would have been dished out after such a thoroughly absorbing game but because of the impact of the adverse metrological conditions this was a most meritorious performance leaving the Vale supporters basking in “a glorious feeling” but not dancing around their umbrellas because they had been scattered to all corners of the ground.
As a footnote to the game, or should it be welly boot?-this has been the Vale’s most impressive start to a league season since 2012/13 when they won their opening six games before losing at Leigh, 16-10, on 13 October 2012.
In addition Powderhouse Lane has become something of a fortress; the last club to lower the Vale’s colours on home turf, was Wilmslow on 22 October 2016, in a 40-19 victory.