Vale moved into second place in Conference B after their nail biting victory against Broughton Park seconds, to set up an interesting encounter at home on Saturday against Burnage 2, who are unbeaten in their seven conference games and top of the table.

Despite an indifferent season Broughton Park raised their game for the visit of the Vale, not exactly a new experience for numerous Vale sides over the years. Park can be particularly strong and obdurate on their own patch, and this latest chapter in the history between the two clubs followed a familiar plot.

At times the Vale flattered to deceive and they struggled for long periods impose to themselves on the game that was expertly controlled by the home side’s experienced fly half who pulled the strings. His influence was noticeable in the build up to Park’s first try which resulted in their inside centre brushing aside some weak tackling for a converted try between the uprights.

A battling Vale side struggled to recapture their form of previous weeks and found it hard to pin Park down in their red zone for any prolonged period of time. Rhodri Bowen made a number of searching runs, Alex Morrison roamed far and wide, while Kieran Doyle had another impressive game but unfortunately the visitors struggled to achieve any collective momentum.

The Vale did draw level with a piece of quick thinking from scrum half Josh Whyke in tandem with Oli Simmons. Josh Whyke charged down a kick, Oli Simmons reacted immediately, pouching the ball for a try converted by Gareth Price in the thirtieth minute. In the forty second minute price kicked a penalty goal to give the Vale a three point lead at half time.

Early in the second half Park heavily punished Vale errors with an early converted try as the game settled into a pattern that the Vale found difficult to disrupt.

With fifteen minute remaining the Vale re-jigged their line up following an injury to hooker Rob O’Brien. The new combination began to test Park’s defence and suddenly the Vale started to gain more possession, they looked comfortable on their own ball and stared to play with a spring in their step.

At the end of proper time Gareth Price kicked a penalty goal when the touchline pundits thought something more adventurous should have been attempted, but the referee had informed both sets of players that at least eight minutes of stoppage time would be played.

In the eighty eighth minute Gareth Price edged the Vale ahead with a confident penalty. There was a minor scare two minutes later when Park were awarded a penalty on half way, a Vale player queried the decision and the kick was moved ten metres closer to the posts, but this long range effort failed to find the target.

Thankfully for the Vale the get out of jail free card had not been left behind in the changing rooms, after all a win is a win, but more consistency might be required against an in form Burnage on Saturday at The Lane.

Vale A: G Price; R Bowen, J Antcliffe, O Simmons, L Richmond; K Doyle, J Whyke; M Field, R O’Brien, O Cowey; L Farnworth (Capt), A Foxcroft; J O’Donnell. G McSporran, A Morrison. Replacements used: O Dobson, W Bylthe.