The seconds appeared to be heading towards victory and holding a 25-11 lead when they let their guard drop to allow Lymm to claw their way back into contention in the closing minutes with two tries, one of which was converted. However, the Vale buckled down and with Oli Cowey barking out instructions they successfully closed out the game, it might not have been pretty, but it was effective.
Vale fielded full squad for their opening game in the Cotton Traders Championship Conference B fixture but they fell behind to a fifth minute penalty goal. Ryan Fawcett levelled the scores with a penalty in the eleventh minute but the visitors eased their way back into the lead after a mix up in Vale’s defence three minutes later.
As the game moved on its windswept way into the second quarter Scott Manning charged down a kick for a well taken opportunist’s unconverted try. Vale went further ahead when Ryan Busby latched onto a kick for a splendid try which Ryan Fawcett converted in the twenty sixth minute.
In the thirty fourth minute Vale failed to police the blind side of a five metre scrum effectively and with an open door beckoning Lymm took full advantage to pinch an unconverted try. The half ended with Ryan Fawcett kicking a penalty goal to give his side a comfortable lead.
With the wind at their backs the Vale tightened control of the game and started on a positive note with a forty ninth minute try scored by Oli Johnson from another charge down, Ryan Fawcett converted.
Although the seconds created numerous chances to add to their score they became profligate with the opportunities, overlaps were ignored, players in space were given the cold shoulder and at least three scoring chances were ignored.
The momentum was taken out of Vale’s game when yellow cards were dished out to Al Crookall and later to Taylor Mills resulting at one stage, as the cards overlapped, with the Vale being reduced to thirteen players; a situation that had not gone unnoticed by Lymm.
In the seventy eighth minute Lymm took full advantage to pocket a try from a five metre scrum. A minute later the visitors left winger belted down the flank and with no tackles coming in he carved his way behind the posts and added the conversion with a drop kick to set up a tense finale.
Vale regrouped, put their thinking caps on to successfully deny Lymm any ball but after building up a substantial lead it was all rather unnecessary.
For the Vale Calum Kyle led by example throughout, Olly Johnson always posed a threat and the seconds welcomed back prop Alex Preston to the colours who brought extra solidity to the pack. On Saturday the Vale face a testing game at Blackburn and will have to remain fully focussed.

Thanks to Reg Robinson for his notes.