Report by Stuart Vernon, pictures by Fred Swarbrick

This fixture was always going to be an onerous task for the Vale with so many of their regulars unavailable for selection. The selectors were forced to draft in players from other sides within the club including a number who are the backbone of the fourth team.
Despite the step up to a higher level of rugby, Dan Rainford, Dave Harrison and Tom Cvijanovic never took a backward step and like the rest of their colleagues played with passion and pluck throughout in a testing environment at Priory Park.
Rob Ward fully deserved all the plaudits following a splendid courageous performance but despite pulling off numerous vital tackles he was unable to halt the procession of points that rained down on the visitors.
During an encouraging first half the Vale tenaciously restricted the Cheshire side to a half time scoreline of 24-3, the Vale’s points coming from a Jamie Antcliffe penalty goal.
A number of the Vale players were forced to play in unfamiliar positions and with no replacements available any injuries picked up forced them to reshuffle their meagre resources, in particular during a difficult second half.
Macclesfield used combinations of pace and power to extend their lead but a resilient Vale side were capable of taking the game to the home side. Rhodri Bowen was just hauled down on his way to score with the Vale’s only additional points coming from Tom Smith with a well taken try as for the second week in succession the Vale found it tough going on the road.
Vale A: J Antcliffe; C Quick, R Ward, C Nicholson, R Bowen; J Birchall, T Vanstone; J Hodkinson, L Birchall, P Jackson; D Rainford, D Harrison (Capt); A Foxcroft, T Cvijanovic, T Smith.