After reaching the heights the previous week at Wilmslow with a victory that secured their Bateman BMW Premier League status the Vale came crashing down to earth with a thump against Chester, a club they defeated at home 45-0 at the beginning of February.

Once again the Vale suffered the perennial problem of being unable to field a settled side and consequentially a number of square pegs were required to slot into round holes. This was reflected in a disjointed opening sixteen minutes when the visitors conceded twenty nine points through some weak or non existent tackling.

Vale tightened up their game in all debarments and with scrum half Harry Bartle setting a fine example with his tackling and all round enthusiasm some stability was achieved, the points bonanza was stemmed until Chester added to their total with a converted try in the closing minute of the half.

There was an early set back for the Vale at the start of the second half but they came back with a try from Jamie Antcliffe in the forty seventh minute. The game became fragmented at times as scrums went from contested and uncontested and then back again which did not help the flow.

Chester regained their grip on the game and went onto add two more tries one of which was converted. It had been very much a backs to the wall situation faced by the Vale who never really recovered from such a demoralising opening. Vale have one more Conference B fixture to play at home against Sandbach 2nds on April 5.

Vale A: S Coulshed; J Marsden, J Antcliffe, M Barker, W Blythe; A Melville, H Bartle; M Field, S Harrison, G Speak; R Needham T Summers; R Mudd (Capt), J Clarkson, D Harrison.