After two weeks of inactivity the Vale came back fully refreshed to record their first league victory with a number of their young guns producing quality performances, even though the second team’s talisman, Lee Farnworth was forced to sit this fixture out.

Vale fell behind to an early Broughton Park penalty goal but responded in the ninth minute with a try from prop Alex Cowey who drove over powerfully, skipper Gareth Price adding the conversion.

The ever alert Josh Whyke chased down a kick that appeared to be a lost cause but the number nine out thought the defence for a well taken unconverted try in the twelfth minute. Price added a penalty at the mid way point to give the Vale a deserved 15-3 lead.

With ten minutes remaining Kieran Doyle kicked up his heels to score, shimmering over for a try after a pulsating passage of rugby from the three quarters, Price converting. Park came back with an unconverted try from their fleet footed winger and the Vale were forced to make changes in their pack when Cowey departed with the recurrence of a shoulder injury.

Park came back strongly at the start of the second half as the Vale took a while to settle into a rhythm following the changes and they started to wobble slightly. The visitors added two tries one of which was converted to bring themselves to within two points of the Vale’s lead.

Alistair Woodhead picked up an injury and with the outcome uncertain Park’s lock forward collected a yellow card with sixteen minutes remaining which allowed the Vale to regain the high ground. Price slotted over an important penalty in the sixty eighth minute.

Playing with increasing confidence the Vale made the visitor’s task even more difficult when Andy Powers, a bundle of energy throughout, snapped up a bobbling ball for a try after break from Andy Wilkinson, Price converting. In the second minute of injury time Matt Thackray put the cherry on the top when he surged over for a try converted by Price before the celebrations began.

Matt Field, a Vale Colt, made an impressive debut at loose head prop, Chris Thomas brought an injection of pace when he came on as a replacement, the half back combination of Whyke and Doyle ensured the Vale played for long periods on the front foot, and Jonathan Archer was busy throughout in a game that must have boosted the second team’s confidence after such a disappointing start to the season.

Vale A: G Price (Capt); J Archer, R Ward, J Antcliffe, T McCaw; K Doyle, J Whyke; M Field, P Watson, A Cowey; A Foxcroft, A Wilkinson; A Woodhead, A Powers, T Smith. Replacements used: M Shaw, M Thackeray, C Thomas