On a miserable wet Saturday afternoon the Vale second string commenced the season with a plucky performance against a team that will again be among the front runners for the Bateman BMW Premier league.

The Sedgley side included at full back last season’s Lancashire full back Steve Nutt, and they started at a tremendous pace. The Vale’s early tackling was excellent and after coping well with the big Sedgley pack in the tight after the 3rd scrum Ollie Cowey was found lying badly injured when all others had moved away.

After a 27 minute break in which the ambulance arrived very quickly and the subsequent careful removal of Ollie from the pitch, the match restarted with Leon Jackson replacing Ollie Cowey. Within a couple of minutes Vale were in front. A snap drop goal by Oli Carter from 40 metres after 5 minutes giving the Vale the lead.
Sedgley were gaining good possession from the lineouts but Vale were causing them considerable problems in the tight and loose. Andy Powers, and Issac Turton were at the forefront, knocking the Sedgley forwards backwards. In addition when the ball was moved wide the Vale centres, Jake Haddow and Tom Crookhall were giving their opposite numbers short shrift, hitting them hard.
In the 19th minute a Vale error let the Sedgley side in for a soft try. With plenty of time to clear a kick was charged down and the Sedgley right winger was the first to touch down for the first Sedgley score. This was converted by full back Nutt to give them a 7 – 3 lead.
Vale then started to have their best period of play and were awarded a couple of penalties which unfortunately Oli Carter was unable to convert but in the 37th minute a cute chip by Josh Whyke into the dead ball area way out right was finished by James Curran who easily outstretched the home defence to touch down. Oli’s conversion attempt hit the post but the Vale had been rewarded for an excellent passage of play and now led
8 -7.
This was to be short lived because the powerful Sedgley pack, helped by a couple of conceded penalties from the Vale put pressure on the Vale defence and then after 39 minutes concerted pressure down the right flank swiftly switched play left for their winger to cruise over with Vale totally stretched. The conversion was missed but it had been a bad time to concede and Sedgley had their noses in front 12 – 8 at the break.

Straight after the break Sedgley put Vale under pressure and after only 3 minutes a five metre scrum saw the Number Eight peel off and go over under the posts leaving a easy conversion for Nutt. 8 – 19 and now the backs were to the wall. Ten minutes into the half saw Phil Jackson replaced by Joe Clarkson after a hard stint at the coal face. Joe going to Number Eight with Tom Smith moving to prop.
Again this seemed to revolutionise the Vale pack who now started to drive hard and cause Sedgley problems. Three penalties were awarded to Vale in fairly quick succession but chances at goal were scorned and scrums were taken. Not until the last of these was a kick at goal elected and then Gareth Price slotted a simple three points to bring the score back to 11 – 19.
This was to be the highlight of the Vale second half performance as Sedgley started to take the game to Vale through superior fitness, the lack of training now showing. A period of pressure from Sedgley ended with the left winger sailing over from 35 metres out with no Vale cover left. Again Nutt converted and it looked like many more scores would come for the visitors.
Vale then made their last change with Rory Hudson replacing Smith and the game going uncontested. Within a few minutes Hudson had made his mark with numerous early tackles.
Vale then held out until the 74th minute when the Sedgley number Eight again went over for the final score, Again Nutt converted to make the final score Vale 11 – 33 Sedgley Park, Vale holding out for the last few minutes.
In a game admirably officiated by Andy Dawson from the Manchester Society, who gave both teams plenty of use of the advantage law, the new law on the maul was the only strange aspect to the game.

The Vale second string will not come up against a much better side than this Sedgley outfit who proved that they had been training better than Vale. Tony Gilmour and Farny had marshalled their restricted resources well and the discipline of the Vale side was excellent. Hopefully when all the players become available the side will develop and last season’s results will be matched. There is plenty there to work on.