For the second week running the Vale produced another excellent spirited performance but were unable to secure important Conference B points at a breezy Varley Park.

Once again the Vale showed commitment that has been in the forefront of their endeavours since the turn of the year but apart from a home conference victory against Altrincham Kersal they have been knocked out of the cup prior to their defeat at second in the table Burnage.

Burnage pressurised the Vale for long periods in the first half but despite having a monopoly of the line outs they were unable to pierce the visitor's defensive network. Although it was backs to the wall for the Vale, who conceded an alarming number of penalties, they successfully held Burnage at arms length.

Mike Barker and Joe Clarkson tackled with their customary vigour, setting the perfect benchmark for those around them. Their colleagues responded by upping their work rate to deny the home side until the thirty first minute when Burnage opened their account with a penalty goal.

Minutes before the interval Jamie Antcliffe levelled the scores with a well struck penalty but seven minutes into the second half, Burnage, with the strong wind at their backs, successfully shunted the Vale over the line for an unconverted try.

Six minutes later, man of the match Barker, broke away on a rampaging fifty metre run, blasting his way through tackles for an unconverted try. Pressure then started to build on the Vale but full back Rob Lamerton showed his class with a searing break, and a number of probing attacks from the Vale reminded Burnage that a victory was not automatic.

Burnage broke the deadlock with an unconverted try from their souped up left wing and a converted try from a number eight pick up at the base.

The Conference B season has yet to reach the half way mark but the Vale still have time to lift themselves clear of the drop zone; the task is not beyond them, they have the potential, and if some of their injured players can recover they should be able to wrestle out of the tentacles of relegation.

Vale A: R Lamerton; J Birchall, J Antcliffe, J Harrison, J Moorby; P Shepherd, S Wilson; P Jackson, S Harrison, O Cowey; D Rainford, R Needham; S Quick, M Barker, J Clarkson. Replacements: M Field, D Starkie.