This top of the table clash lived up to its pre match billing as the two leading clubs in the league went head to head in what was a competitive, spirited, hugely entertaining encounter with the outcome hanging in the balance until the closing minutes.
Vale’s hard earned victory, against the only club to have beaten them this season, took them to the top of the table and extended their winning sequence to eight games in league and cup games.
For those glued to the televisions in a bustling clubhouse at Powderhouse Lane they missed a thriller in a real time and although it was chilly on the touchlines the action on the field more than compensated for the mercury drop in the thermometers. Hands were warmed at the end with a wall of applause for all those whose efforts had made it such a rewarding eighty minutes, including referee Joe Matthews who ensured the game went along at healthy lick and any nonsense was quickly dealt with.
Following the second postponement of Vale’s North One West fixture at St Benedict because of a waterlogged pitch the spotlight swung onto the seconds but it was Lymm who took centre stage, rattling up twelve points in equal time as the Vale struggled to contain a lively back division and a well organised, mobile pack.
Under the leadership of lock Rhys Randall, more structure was established in Vale’s forwards the net result being that in the fifteenth minute the pack engineered a score. From a line out a coordinated drive ended with flanker, James Mawdsley burrowing his way over for a try converted with a superb kick from stand-off Alex Briggs.
Four minutes Lymm extended their lead with a well worked move crossfield that resulted in an unconverted try. Although Lymm had the luxury of a ten point lead the Vale were beginning to impose themselves, their defensive alignment improved, and through the efforts of the forwards, particularly in the loose, they started to play on the front foot. In the twenty seventh minute Jordan Fern found himself in space on the right flank. He outpaced his opposite number and although the covering defence swarmed all round him in the dead ball area he managed to squirm out of tackles to touch down behind the posts, his try being converted by Alex Briggs.
An Alex Briggs penalty goal in the thirty third minute brought the Vale level to complete the first half scoring in a half that had seen the home side dig deep and stake their claim in a game that initially had started so badly.
A penalty, which Alex Briggs drilled over two minutes into the second half, was answered immediately when Lymm’s stand-off kicked a thirty five metre penalty.
In the fiftieth minute the Vale nudged their way into the lead with a quality try. Following a thrust from lock Al Crookall the ball was moved with lightning speed crossfield, the pack smuggled the ball down the right hand touchline before prop, Owen Branford charged over for an unconverted try.
Lymm were visibly stung by this score and they mounted a series of attacks and as the Vale retreated they started to concede penalties. From a tap penalty in Vale’s twenty two Lymm’s forwards rumbled ominously towards Vale’s line. Inevitably this route one approach usually ends with a try and although the Vale clung on like limpets, power and strength told in the end as the Lymm eight paved the way for a converted try in the fifty sixth minute.
As the game passed the hour mark Lymm made all the running, trapping the Vale in their half for fully ten minutes. Despite all the territorial advantage Lymm were unable to break through a stubborn Vale defensive network, their only chances coming via two long range penalties which failed to find the target.
Gradually a disciplined Vale side lifted the siege and a number of counter attacks had Lymm on the retreat. The Vale’s momentum increased and so their self belief, and in the seventy fifth minute victory was secured. From a solid scrum a razor sharp attack was launched going left. Skipper Scott Manning spotted a gap in Lymm’s defence, the full back fearlessly launched himself for the line and bouncing off tackles he touched down by the post protector, Alex Briggs slotted over the conversion for a score of dramatic proportions. Real theatre.
There was still enough time available for Lymm to turn the result around but the Vale defended with passion to deny the Cheshire side any morsels in a game that might have been light years away from Twickenham but contained huge measures of passion, commitment and an overwhelming desire to make things happen.
It was another gratifying team performance from a Vale squad that contained a blend of experience and emerging talented players and once a torrid opening twelve minutes had been laid to rest they played with increasing resilience and confidence.
Scrum half Kieron Doyle was making his first appearance of the season and quickly picked up the pace, a misaligned hooter confirmed that he had managed to get up close and personal to his opponents.
His partner at half back, young Alex Briggs, continues to mature, with all aspects of his game moving up to fresh levels, his authority in the number ten jersey increases with every game.
All the threequarters improved as a unit the longer the game went on and after experiencing the initial Lymm onslaught they identified the influential players and tracked their every move with a reasonable degree of success.
Rhys Randal was a lighthouse in the pack, not only taking full responsibility when the situation demanded it but organising and cajoling those around him. Hooker Richard Hodgson and prop Owen Branford were fired up throughout, full of bristling energy which in turn rubbed off on those around them.
Lock Bobby Holbrook showed the form he was in last season and along with flankers, Fraser Spavin and James Mawdsley, he was always to be found where the action was at its most demanding. Al Crookall’s arrival off the bench changed the dynamics; he helped to put his side on the front foot and the eventual pathway to securing victory.
On Saturday the Vale travel to Stockport, a side they have defeated twice this term in cup and league, but skipper Manning will no doubt be reminding his troops to ignore the previous meetings and the fact that Stockport are bottom of the table. The memory of what happened to the first team against Douglas is too recent and with it the consequences that can result if any type of complacency creeps into the subconscious.