A brave performance from the Vale failed to halt the hosts who moved to the top of the league table.
Even before the whistle for kick off blew the Vale encountered problems when replacement Will Blackmore pulled a muscle in the warm with further problems being forced on them when scrum half Gareth Price limped off with a leg injury after fifteen minutes. But this was not the final blow the visitors had to suffer because their charismatic stand off, Kieran Doyle was concussed in the twenty seventh minute, but after an overnight stay in hospital he was able to return home.
These disruptions seriously affected the Vale but Jimmy Birchall successfully made the transition to fly half and on a number of occasions was able to launch a seriers of attacks. In the forwards Andy Wilkinson grafted hard with his customary vigour, working hard to deny the opposition the ball at close quarters.
Despite all their difficulties in reorganisation the Vale only trailed 15-0 at half time, but in the second half the pressure began to mount as the freewheeling Preston side moved the ball around with increasing confidence, pace and authority.
Vale’s consolation try in what had been a difficult, challenging encounter, was posted by Olly Simmons with a neatly taken interception try. The pack worked hard and held their own in the sets and overall the Vale never gave up against a Hoppers side that played with impressive strength when going forward.
Vale A: J Antcliffe; A Newton, J Birchall, O Simmons, E Fowler; K Doyle, G Price; J Hodkinson, P Berry, A Morrison; A Foxcroft, A Wilkinson; N Parkhill, I Turton, H Marsden. Replacements used: L Birchall, P Jackson