A crack of dawn inspection confirmed that the pitches at the Vale of Lune were just about playable on a heavy surface that could be described as heavy to glutinous. The pump had been working all night to prevent the ground becoming thoroughly waterlogged, even so conditions were from ideal but an upbeat Vale team were able to frolic their way to an important Conference B victory which lifts them above the drop zone.

This second conference victory has eased the Vale's worries but they know that there is currently little room to manoeuvre with six games remaining. On Saturday they face leaders Birkenhead Park who are unbeaten in the conference and have this season completed the double over the Vale, but not by massive margins, 15-12 on their own patch and 14-0 at Powder House Lane. However, Vale's victory against Chester has boosted their confidence and if they can travel to Birkenhead with anything approaching a full strength squad they should be in with a shout but it will be no canter at The Upper Park for the visitors.

In the Year of the Horse the Vale were into their stride as soon as the starting stalls swung open when Jamie Antcliffe went careering round behind the posts at full tilt after James Moorby had galloped down the right flank; stand off Neil Walker converted in the second minute.

One minute later Jake Harrison cut loose with a balanced powerful run to prance away for an unconverted try. With their collective tails up the Vale's powerhouse of a scrum were reined in because right from the kick off the scrums were uncontested because the visitors had travelled without a recognised prop.

This situation did not necessarily compromise the Vale's ambitions because the front rowers could expend their energies in other areas of the field and the back row had a little more time to keep an eye on what Chester's half backs were up to.

Vale's next two tries came courtesy of their forwards. In the twenty first minute flanker Mike Barker, who has made a massive impact this season, touched down after a well coordinated drive, Walker added the conversion. With as drummer in the clubhouse rehearsing for a performance in the evening, big Dan Rainford, in perfect time, clomped over for his try which Walker converted from wide out in the twenty sixth minute.

The half ended as it had begun with Antcliffe collecting his second try wide out in the thirty fifth minute which was not converted, before all the players scooted for sanctuary of the changing rooms.

Certainly the Vale could feel pleased with their first half performance but they struggled to get their feet back in the stirrups during the third quarter as Chester pinned them back, but the Vale's defence held firm.

Gradually the Chester challenge faded and with prop Alex Cowey, a popular man of the match, creating mayhem with some powerful, purposeful high stepping runs, the home side increased their score in the sixty eighth minute with a penalty try converted by Walker.

A smiling Rainford crashed over from close range for an unconverted try in the seventy seventh minute in a game where all the players, to their credit, made light of the wind and rain as did referee, Mike Hayward whose handling of the contest was first class.

The survival odds might have shortened following the win against Chester but the race is far from over, the bookies' book is not yet closed, there are many furlongs to be run before anyone can leap like Frankie Dettori, jubilantly from the saddle.

Vale A: R Lamerton; J Moorby, J Harrison, J Antcliffe, J Birchall; N Walker, O Dobson; M Field, O Cowey (Capt), A Cowey; D Rainford, R Needham; S Quick, M Barker, J Hesketh. Replacements: D Starkie, P McNeil, S Wilson.
Man of the Match: Alex Cowey.