After two heavy league defeats the Vale returned to winning ways with a pleasing all round performance against Liverpool St Helens with centre Adam Macluskie running in four tries.
A dominant Vale pack was in control throughout with prop John Hodkinson helping to not only ensure a solid platform in the scrums but posing a threat to the visitors with some explosive running in broken play. Stalwart forward, Lee Farnworth, who came on as a replacement, used his considerable forward experience to good effect and ensure the Vale’s concentration did not wander at critical times against lively opponents who were swift to counter attack.
Macluskie opened his account with a try after six minutes when he powered over the line with a typical solo charge; Gareth Price added the conversion with a superb kick. Nine minutes later a rampant Vale pack combined to pave the way for a try for Issac Turton again, converted by Price.
From a line out the Vale forwards were at it again as an effective mobile unit when they thundered over the line with hooker Phil Berry touching down for an unconverted try in the twenty fifth minute.
A misdirected Vale kick allowed the LSH threequarters top show how their paces with a snappy converted try, but a penalty goal from Price with three minutes remaining followed by Macluskie barging his way over a try converted by Price underlined a confidence boosting performance from the home side.
The Vale made changes at half time and before they had time to settle, LSH doubled their score with a quickly taken tap penalty try which was converted. For long periods in the second half the Vale struggled to recapture their earlier rhythm and any lazy kicks were returned with interest.
However, the final quarter of an hour belonged to the Vale. Macluskie high stepped his way to his hat trick in the sixty fifth minute and his fourth try came at the end of an adventurous attack that saw the ball flashing crossfield in a move efficiently completed by Macluskie, Price converted both.
On Saturday the Vale travel to tenth in the table Stockport 2 lifted by their third victory of the season but knowing that any fixture at Headlands Road, Bramhall, brings with it added pressures.
Vale A: R Ward; R Muir, A Macluskie, O Simmons (J Antcliffe 40), W Blythe; G Price, O Dobson (L Power 40); J Hodkinson, P Berry. A Morrison; A Foxcroft (Capt), C Quick; T Cvijanovic, I Turton (L Farnworth 20), H Marsden