At the beginning of the season the seconds suffered a heavy defeat at Sandbach but in their final Cotton Traders Championship fixture the two sides produced a nail biter but unfortunately Sandbach returned to Cheshire in possession of Vale’s unbeaten home record.
Once again the seconds struggled to field a full squad at kick off time and were slow to start, conceding a sixth minute try when a poorly directed relieving kick was returned with interest for an unconverted try. Struggling to muscle their way onto a place at the table the seconds fell further behind when Sandbach’s pack trapped their opposite numbers and then mauled them over the line for a converted try in the thirteenth minute.
Gradually the Vale threw away the cobwebs and began to play with more composure and authority. In the nineteenth minute flanker Andy Newton lifted his colleagues with a try wide out, Lee Starkey’s excellent kick just failing to go over.
Two minutes later prop Ollie Cowey engaged first gear to drive over for a try converted by Lee Starkey to level the scores. Vale then moved into a deserved lead in the twenty eighth minute with a try from the dangerous Dan Helme after Bobby Holdbrook had initiated the attack with one of his energetic bursts from his own half, Lee Starkey converted from wide out with a magnificent kick.
Before the interval Sandbach’s scrum half took the Vale by surprise when he darted through for an unconverted try in the thirty second minute.
Vale shifted their front row around for the start of the second half and this was reflected in a disjointed beginning and unusually they started to struggle in the sets. In the fifty second minute they were shunted over their line by Sandbach which provided the visitors number eight to score an unconverted try.
A similar pattern to the start of the first half had emerged and as the hour mark approached Vale’s game was in a state of flux which allowed Sandbach’s winger to chase down a kick ahead for an unconverted try.
Slowly the seconds regrouped and began taking the game to Sandbach with a visible bounce in their step. However, a decision to take a pot at goal from a penalty rather than thumping the ball into touch for an attacking line out caused some head scratching and raised eyebrows on the touchline.
A try from the hard working Petra Alexov which was converted by Lee Starkey with four minutes remaining set up a window of opportunity for the home side in a contest that was admirably refereed by Mike Walker who dispensed justice in equal measures and was quick to punish any unnecessary back chat.
The seconds finished fourth out of seven in the league and will now have to wait until February 8 to begin their Conference C fixtures, but in the meantime they to play a Robinsons Brewery Cup tie away against Rossendale 2 on February 1.
Thanks to Reg Robinson for his concise notes, and Fred Swarbrick for his portfolio of photographs.