The seconds faced a strong forward orientated Macclesfield side which was always going to cause mayhem when they clamped their hands on the ball and flicked the lever into four wheel drive. The Vale were fully aware of the visitors battle plan and avoided being dragged into prolonged mauling sessions although the Macclesfield eight did provide the majority of their sides points.
A feature of the Vale’s squad was the number of third team players who are beginning to make their presence felt at a higher level. Harry Agar and Alfie Bolton both scored tries on their debuts, Dave Minikin also featured in the scorers and again impressed. Harry Vause made an outstanding man of the match contribution with a robust all action performance.
Macclesfield, with the wind at their backs, brought their forward power to the party straight from the kick off, rumbling their merry way to a third minute unconverted try.
Vale responded with a breakaway try when Joe Wallbank embarked on a single minded dash for an unconverted try but Macclesfield played to their strengths and in the twenty second minute one of their flankers broke off the base for an unconverted try.
However, the remainder of the half belonged to the home side. They successfully moved the ball away from Macclesfield’s grasping hands and dominant pack. Scott Manning burst away for a try converted by Ryan Busby in the twenty eighth minute.
Spinning the ball wide effectively Vale stretched the visitors as was illustrated when Ryan Busby rounded off an excellent threequarter move, he converted his own try in the thirty seventh minute. The lively Harry Agar crowned an impressive performance with an unconverted try to give the Vale a comfortable lead before the interval.
Four minutes into the second half the Macclesfield eight were at it again to force the Vale backwards and another unconverted try. Vale made changes in their line up and shortly after his arrival Alfie Bolton left the opposition trailing in his wake for an unconverted try after Matt Field had made the initial break in the fifty first minute.
Another surging run from Scott Manning in the fifty sixth minute resulted in a try converted by Ryan Busby. Macclesfield added to their score shortly after with another unconverted try and in the seventieth minute they closed their account with controversial unconverted try.
Despite having to reshuffle their forwards, and the Macclesfield juggernaut finding another gear late on, the Vale scored a thrilling try with four minutes remaining, when David Minikin raced away following a pacey, well constructed threequarter move, his try being converted by Ryan Busby.
Overall it was a deserved victory for the home side in which the newcomers made their mark but there were important contributions from Adam Macluskie at stand-off who distributed the ball most efficiently, Tom Rogers whose tackling thwarted numerous attacks and Matt Field, who was lively throughout.
The seconds complete their Cotton Traders Championship at Stockport on Saturday but they leave behind them an impressive home record after only being defeated twice, once in the league by Lymm 2 and in the BEST Cup by Sedgley Park 2.