The seconds produced a resolute performance against Fylde but once the visitors had their noses in front they proved difficult to haul back despite some enterprising rugby from the Vale who came back into the game after an indifferent start.
Fylde ran in two early tries, one of which was converted in the opening nine minutes. The Vale found themselves facing a strong, physical side with two towering players at lock forward and on the wing, but the Vale refused to bend the knee and in the twelfth minute they came storming back into contention.
Stand off Alex Briggs directed an accurate kick, its trajectory was perfectly tracked by Ethan Robertson who touched down, and Alex Briggs added the conversion. This score was quickly followed by the neatest of tries from Alex Briggs who sniped over to level the scores.
Fylde regained the lead when their centre blasted his way over for a converted try in the twenty first minute. Unfortunately a stirring crossfield run from Nathan Manning came to an abrupt end when a pass was intercepted by Fylde’s left wing who raced clear for a converted try.
The visitors went further ahead seven minutes into the second half when their right winger went over for an unconverted try. However, the seconds rose to the challenge that confronted them but produced a number of highly promising moves.
Ethan Robertson’s powerful bursts gave the opposition plenty to think about and in the sixty sixth minute the Vale registered a score deserving of their efforts when Steve Tagg drove over for an unconverted try. A few minutes later a distraught Alex Briggs saw the ball slip agonisingly from his grasp with the line at his mercy.
Fylde drew on their experience to thwart any thoughts of a Vale resurgence to close the game out and achieve the double over their opponents.
For the seconds Steve Tagg had an outstanding game and was a real thorn in Fylde’s side, Fraser Spavin won valuable lineout ball, Lee Starkey again proved to be very eager to hunt down the ball when he came off the bench as the whole side worked hard to overcome their slow start to the game.
On Saturday the seconds travel to Chester for the final Cotton Traders Premier League fixture before the league splits, but their next game at Powderhouse Lane will be a Robinsons Brewery Cup tie against Preston Grasshoppers 2 on January 29.
A big thank you to Reg Robinson for his notes.