Not for the first time this season the seconds were forced to hit the road without a full complement of players but once again the basic philosophy and high standards of sportsmanship to be found in the NWIRUL league structure ensured that a shortage of players did not mean the cancellation of a fixture or an imbalance in the line ups.
Chester loaned the Vale a couple of their players to ensure they had a compliment of 15. Alas for the seconds only six of those who played against Fylde the previous week were available, with just five of them who could be described as regulars.
Eventually it was an inexperienced, relatively young team that trotted out at Hare Lane, but despite the size of the final score everyone battled hard, with conviction, from the first whistle to the last blast in a gruelling eighty minutes. The Vale were warmly applauded for their efforts by the hosts who praised all involved for their determination to fulfil the fixture; another instance of where the spirit of the code was shining at its brightest.
The scrums were ruled uncontested from the kick off which suited Chester who were quickly putting points on the board and after twelve minute were leading 28-0. Chester were a strong, fit, fast side, with a combative back row and dangerous full back, whose first instinct was to attack ensured that the seconds could not afford to switch off for the merest second.
Vale did score their try in the seventeenth minute in their final Cotton Traders Championship fixture of the season when their influential captain Fraser Spavin touched down with Alex Briggs kicking the conversion. Alex confirmed his loyalty to the team when he opted to play even though he was leaving for a skiing holiday the following day; a splendid gesture.
Chester were forced to work hard for their points but those Vale players who were stepping up to a new level, never let their work rate drop but were unable to prevent Chester from inflicting on the seconds their heaviest defeat of the season.
For the seconds Fraser Spavin’s contribution was immense, Matt Field refused to yield an inch of ground, Richard Hodgson once again confirmed what a highly motivated player he is and Joe Wallbank made a huge contribution on his return after a lengthy absence.
Alex Briggs and Harry Finan established a useful partnership at half back but all the so called “old hands” in the seconds were full of praise and admiration for their fellow players who stepped up to the plate and answered the call in a fixture that they all knew was akin to venturing into the lion’s den.
On Saturday the seconds have a home tie in the Robinsons Brewery Cup against Preston Grasshoppers 2, before they embark on their opening fixture in the Cotton Traders Conference B, away at Sale 2 on February 2.