Like the first team Vale of Lune's second string struggle to field the same side on a regular basis and so for the visit of Sale FC seconds changes were made, not only from the fixture at Macclesfield the previous week, but also during the course of the encounter against the Cheshire side which was impeccably refereed by Rob Sheard.

The game had only been underway for three minutes when prop Matt Field suffered a shoulder injury and had to be replaced by John Hodgkinson who made an immediate impact and went onto to make a massive contribution to his team's cause both in the tight and loose.

Field had little time to warm the bench or have his shoulder massaged because he was called back into the action to take over from fellow front rower, Scott Foy.

Joe Clarkson was at his usual combative best, perpetual motion in a swiftly moving game. Steve Quick put in a full shift in a pack that competed vigorously against a well built Sale eight.

Neil Walker at stand off marshalled the backs with authority, peppered the opposition with some pin-point accurate kicks and brought players onto the ball with quick arrow straight passes. When Andy Muir suffered a recurrence of an ankle injury in the second half his replacement Chris Weeks quickly picked up the pace and always looked dangerous as did James Moorby on the opposite wing. Josh Whyke appeared at home in the centre and played with growing confidence.

During the first half both sets of players tended to cancel each other out with Sale's winger scoring the only try of the half after a centre had sliced through Vale's defence from deep in the nineteenth minute.

Vale were always in contention in the half but struggled to create any clear cut opportunities and with heavy rain falling, plus thunder and lightning rattling around The Lane, the referee took the players off early and they remained in the changing room for twenty minutes before the storm abated.

Seven minutes into the second half Sale increased their lead with a converted try from a well programmed back row move from a scrum in Vale's twenty two. But the Vale refused to wilt, they dug deep and were rewarded in the sixty sixth minute when Moorby, an exciting young prospect broke through a number of tackles for an unconverted try.

Two minutes later the Vale drew level when Olly Dobson broke clear for a solo try converted by Walker. However, shortly afterwards a successfully penalty goal secured victory for the visitors against a Vale side that played with commendable resolution in another premier league game that showcased its merits.

Vale A: D Starkie; J Moorby, J Whyke, J Antcliffe, A Muir; N Walker, O Dobson; M Field, O Cowey, S Foy; A Foxcroft, S Quick; R Mudd, P Maclean, J Clarkson. Replacements: J Hodgkinson, C Weeks, D Lane.