After their morale boosting victory in the Raging Bull Cup against Sandbach it was back to the demands of league rugby for the Vale. Their fixture at Lightfoot Green against second in the table Preston Grasshoppers proved to be just as testing as the pundits had predicted for the visitors.

Although the Vale went down against a strong, experienced Hoppers’ side, they played with gritty determination in a most encouraging and spirited display ahead of their campaign in the Conference B. At the final whistle team manager, Tony Gilmour, was full of praise for the efforts of all the players in a demanding encounter.

Mark Bolton answered the call as a front row replacement when the B team’s fixture was called off, club captain Dan Perry was able to play his first full game since October 15, and Adam Macluskie made a welcome return after a knee injury had forced him to spend six weeks on the sidelines.

Hoppers pinned the Vale down in the early exchanges but the visitor’s defence remained firm after conceding a seventh minute converted try. In a competitive half between two committed sides, Gareth Price thumped over a long range penalty goal after half hour. An injury to winger Rob Ward forced the Vale to bring on their latest recruit, Ben Porritt, normally a scrum half, who like the rest of his colleagues, played with great endeavour until the final whistle.

In injury time Preston increased their lead with an unconverted try from their tight head prop and the Vale went further behind early in the second half when their fly half slanted through a hesitant defence for a converted try.

There was an element luck abort the home side’s next two scores when first a Vale player slid over the ball on the greasy surface and then a crucial slip resulted in a missed tackle and a try. There was nothing fluky about Hoppers’ final try when a sweeping attack had the Vale’s defence at sixes and sevens.

At times the Vale have received a severe buffeting this season and it remains to be seen if the waters are less rough in Conference B. They begin with anything but a paddle in the shallows when they host Lymm on Saturday.

They last faced Lymm on November 19. On that occasion Lymm scored a controversial try in injury time which was converted to give the Cheshire side a 26-24 victory at the end of a robust contest. Hold onto to your seats, the rudder and oars!