The previous week the Vale travelled to Altrincham Kersal knowing that a victory would be required to retain their status in the Bateman BMW Premier League but this time around Wilmslow found themselves in a similar situation where only maximum points would ensure another season at the highest level.
Wilmslow reached their goal but had to withstand a late Vale challenge in the second half after seeing their lead of twenty four points whittled away by the home side in the closing ten minutes of game expertly handled by Alan Blackburn.
Once again the Vale were forced to make changes in their line up and then they suffered an early set back when Elliot Hatton had to be replaced in the tenth minute after suffering a broken thumb by Matt Field whose arrival caused a reshuffle in the pack.
Wilmslow’s well drilled forwards caused the Vale problems with the visitor’s opening score, a converted try, coming at the end of a controlled rolling maul that had the Vale retreating. Vale struggled to retain possession with the ball being coughed up far too easily, passes dropped, errors that Wilmslow were quick to exploit.
The second try of the half was scored by Wilmslow’s talented stand off who was sharp off the mark and constant threat with ball in hand as was confirmed when he ghosted through for an unconverted try in the thirty eighth minute.
Vale fell further behind in the opening ten minutes of the second half as the quicksilver fly half completed his hat trick with two unconverted tries.
Facing an uphill battle and twenty two points adrift the Vale showed their character when Rob Ward, who came more and more onto the game, went over for a try converted by Kieran Doyle in the fifty second minute. Lock Harry Fellows was ideally placed to score an unconverted try after an hour but a passage of untidy Vale play allowed Wilmslow to move further ahead with an unconverted try, another Wilmslow try was scored after possession of the ball was surrendered.
To all intents and purpose the Vale were down and pretty much out but as the game moved into the closing ten minutes they began to nibble into Wilmslow’s lead. Dan Rainford, whose tackling had been exceptional, battled his way over for a deserved try in the seventy third minute.
Playing purposeful rugby the Vale started to stretch the visitors and test their nerves in particular when Ward went over for his second try which Doyle converted from wide in the seventy fifth minute. This score was followed by a try from Jamie Antcliffe converted by Doyle but with the clock ticking down time ran out before a dramatic win could be recorded.
Both Rainford and Ward could be pleased with their contributions, scrum half Arthur Haines again impressed, Jimmy Birchall produced a number of dangerous runs, Alex Hill grafted hard and skipper Phil Watson led by example.
Wilmslow like the Vale, now live to fight another day but the final result did give the home side time to reflect on the aspects of their game that allowed the Cheshire club too many opportunities to build a platform for victory.
Vale complete their season with a testing fixture at Birkenhead Park on Saturday.
Vale A: R Lamerton; T Holder-Williams, J Birchall, J Antcliffe, R Ward; K Doyle, A Haines; P Jackson, P Watson (Capt), A Cowey; C Quick, H Fellows; E Hatton, T Cvijanovic, D Rainford. Replacements used: M Field, A Hill.