A team manager’s job is not always happy one in particular when players cry off late in the week and replacements have to found by fair means or foul. Such a situation confronted the unflappable Tony Gilmour ahead of the Vale’s trip to high flying Caldy.
Using all of his administrative skills and powers of persuasion he recruited a posse of Vale stalwarts including, Aaron Melville, Paul Bolton, Mark Manning, Dave Harrison and Matt Thackray to plug the gaps. Alongside a number of Vale regulars the second team produced a magnificent, big hearted performance in a stamina sapping encounter against the joint league leaders.
At one stage in the second half Caldy threatened to inflict a massive defeat on the make shift Vale squad when they established a 45-7 lead with the final quarter beckoning, but a resilient Vale bounced back to stretch the home side and to ensure the scoreline reflected their efforts.
After all their pre match trials and tribulations further problems were heaped on the Vale when Rhys Randall limped off with a pulled hamstring after only two minutes. While the Vale adjusted to the changes and the pace of the game, Caldy rattled in two converted tries. The home side’s third try was surrounded in controversy when the ball appeared to have been dropped over the try line but the referee had no hesitation in awarding the try despite the howls of protests.
A fourth converted try gave Caldy a handsome half time lead as the Vale worked hard to remain in contention. Further changes were made by the Vale for the second half which they began with a superb forty metre penalty goal from Sean Coulshed which helped to lift the Vale. Caldy effectively put the game beyond Vale’s reach with a three try blitzkrieg, one of which was converted, in the space of five minutes to leave the visitors thirty eight points adrift with twenty four minutes remaining.
Vale’s mini fight back began when Thom Vanstone reacted quickly to snap up a loose ball after Caldy had failed to clear their lines, Sean Coulshed added the conversion. Aaron Melville rolled back the years with a twinkling try after a slick passing movement had created an overlap against a Caldy side that had a player in the sin bin. The referee did not immediately award the try but eventually the correct decision was arrived at and Sean Coulshed put over the conversion.
In addition to the contribution from the “Golden Oldies” newcomer prop John Large, in his second game for a Vale side impressed, lock Dan Rainford continues to shine at this level, scrum have Liam Power was a bundle of constructive energy throughout, while Sean Coulshed’s exceptional performance rightly earned him the man of the match accolade.
A recent addition to the Vale has been Salvador Torres but this popular player, who has made an instant impact, suffered a double leg fracture playing for Lancaster University in mid-week; all his colleagues at the Vale wish him a speedy recovery.