Boosted by their victory over Lymm 2 the previous week the seconds travelled to a bustling Ramsgreave Drive in good heart but they were unable to recapture their form and produced a rather flat performance that lacked the real sparkle they are capable of and were unable to lift their game at crucial stages.
For the first time in numerous outings the usually reliable forwards had an off day and instead of firing on all eight cylinders they struggled to achieve any smooth running, despite the efforts of the hard working prop Joe Stevens they never achieved the required dominance. Outside the scrum the backs discovered that their supply of quality ball was rather sporadic and they never really got into their stride.
Vale began on a positive note, with the wind and sun at their backs, when Alex Briggs kicked a penalty goal after five minutes. Five minutes alter the number ten was off target with a penalty but in twelfth minute a threequarter move in which Scott Manning played a key role ended with winger Jordan Fern racing over for an unconverted try.
As the game moved into the second quarter Blackburn came more and more into contention. In the twenty fourth minute Vale’s pack came under serious pressure and conceded a converted try. Just before half time went into the lead when following a series of missed tackles their hard running centre crossed for a comfortable converted try.
Three minutes into the second half Alex Briggs put over a penalty but three minutes later Blackburn’s pack again turned the screw and powered their way over for an unconverted try.
A Blackburn penalty on the hour was followed by a flowing threequarter move that ended with the home side’s full back rounding off the attack with an unconverted try in the seventy first minute.
With the game drawing to a close Jordan Fern touched down for an unconverted try after a decisive break from Scott Manning in a battling passage of rugby from the seconds. A converted try from Blackburn’s hard running centre completed the scoring.
For long periods in the game the Vale’s tacklers went fat too high, unfortunately few followed Richard Hodgson’s technique of going hard and low. Harry Finan worked hard in the backs but on the day the threequarters were unable to find the necessary cohesion. Isaac Turton made a welcome return after a long absence in what had been a low key performance from the seconds.