With a lengthening injury list throughout the Vale of Lune, the B team game over at Southport had to be called off through lack of players, a trip to Fylde for Vale’s second team with so many of their regulars missing was always going to be a daunting task. To add to beleaguered Vale’s problems they finished the game with only thirteen players on the field because of further injuries.

A fleet footed Fylde three quarter line quickly made their presence felt racing into a twenty points lead by the end of the first quarter. Any handling error by the Vale was summarily punished and although the visitors did mange to make inroads into Fylde territory once the ball left the comfort zone of their hard working forwards the predatory Fylde backs pounced to sweep imperiously down field.

By half time they had blasted into a 37-0 lead and during the interval Vale reshuffled their team but the Fylde try scoring machine hardly missed a beat. However, before the half century was reached a gallant Vale side halted a whitewash.

It was fitting that the pack fashioned a try for hard working Matt Field in the sixty fifth minute but a final converted Fylde try took them over the fifty mark. Vale refused to throw in the towel and with reduced numbers Rhodri Bowen nipped over for an unconverted try.

Again Field impressed for his whole hearted effort, Ben Charnley was in the thick of the action, Matthew Speight used all his experience to try to stabilise his side and Lee Farnworth tightened everything up when he came on a second half replacement. Jonathan Archer worked hard in the threequarters as did Huw Marsden when he was moved into the centre from the back row as the Vale tried to fill the gaps following the departures of their injured players.

Unfortunately an ever expanding injury list, from the top down, is beginning to impact on all teams at The Lane where commitment and dedication is being stretched to the limits. Until the injured players recover then those who pull on the cherry and white are going to be tested, but those who battled against the odds at Fylde left with their heads held high and are to be congratulated.

Vale A: J Antcliffe; J Archer, A Laverick, R Bowen, C Strachan; R ward, J Whyke; M Field, D Schuyler (Capt), A Cowey; A Foxcroft, M Speight; H Marsden, B Charnley, T Smith. Replacements used: L Farnworth, R O’Brien