Vale were good value for the victory against Sale FC their win boosting confidence ahead of an important fixture at Chester on Saturday where the outcome could well decide which half of the conference league they will play in for the second part of the season.

The hosts made an excellent start, quickly out of their blocks with a second minute try. Tom Crookall made the initial defence splitting break in a move that was tracked by brother Al who cam in off his wing to score an unconverted try.

Although the Vale's pack dominated throughout the game the home side were unable to build on their score. Sale opened their account with a twenty third minute penalty goal and in the thirty seventh minute they went into the lead with an unexpected score. A bouncing ball in Vale's dead ball area was not defused and in the confusion a Sale player sneaked in to dive on the ball to plunder a converted try from nowhere.

With the strong wind at their backs in the second half the romped back into the lead with an early try from Scott Manning after the pack had provided the perfect platform, Sean Coulshed added the conversion in the forty second minute.

Unfortunately Vale's did not stay ahead for too long because Sale struck back immediately with a try wide out. The roller coaster beginning continued when Vale's young up and coming prop, Joe Stevens, threw a classic dummy which was brought by the opposition, hook, line and sinker in the forty ninth minute, Coulshed put over the conversion.

Sale pressed for further scores but their task was made more difficult when Sean Coulshed kicked a penalty goal in the fifty second minute followed by a neatly taken try from Alex Morrison who shot off the back of a scrum for an unconverted try in the fifty fourth minute.

Vale's final score just before the hour mark followed a text book move from the forwards at a five metre line out after a penalty was popped into touch. The forwards mauled their way to the line where hooker Simon Harrison mauled his way over for his try converted by Sean Coulshed.

The game continued to bubble merrily along and the Vale might have added to their total but Al Crookall's dash for glory was thwarted when the ball was dislodged from his grasp with a thundering tackle.

In an excellent team performance there were a number of fine individual performances. Joe Stevens' contribution was massive, the back row, which was running hot throughout, of Tom Cvijanovic, Alex Morrison and the imperious Danny Lin, gave the opposition little time to settle. Full back Simon Wilson tackled with conviction and made a positive contribution, centres Scott Manning and Tom Crookall formed a formidable combination in a Vale side that will be looking to sustain the momentum for their important game at Chester.