This quarter final tie was switched from Macclesfield’s frozen pitches at Priory Park but the venue made little difference to the ambitions of the cup holders who strode imperiously through to the semis.

The knock on effect of players being called up for Vale’s first team had repercussions for the A team who none the less produced a brave performance against Macclesfield, but the odds were stacked heavily against them straight from the kick off.

Within a minute of the kick off Macclesfield scored the first of their thirteen tries, nine of which were converted. Macclesfield’s lively intelligent back division showed no mercy, scoring at regular intervals with commendable efficiency and by half time had established a 47-0 lead.

Vale made changes to their line up at half time but the torture still continued as the Silkmen continued to weave their magic. There was little respite for the Vale when the scrums went uncontested following an injury to Matt Field, who has recently been selected for the Lancashire under 20’s squad, as the Vale were reduced to fourteen players in the fifty ninth minute.

Unfortunately the Vale were unable to achieve any parity for any meaningful periods and just when some stability appeared to be on the horizon Macclesfield upped the pace to widen the gap even further.

Skipper Lee Farnworth refused to give up the unequal struggle and was as always leading from the front. He received valuable support from stand off Kieran Doyle, both in defence and attack, on a day when the Vale were put to the sword comprehensively by a quicksilver Macclesfield side.

As always in such situations it is appropriate to revert to managerial speech and apologies for stealing Tony Gilmour’s thunder, “We can now concentrate on Conference B lads, starting with a tricky fixture at Penrith on Saturday.”

Vale A: G Price; J Reeves, J Antcliffe, R Ward (L Richmond 40), L Power; K Doyle, J Whyke (a Wilkinson 40); J O’Donnell (G Speak 56), M Field, O Cowey; L Farnworth (Capt), M Wilson; O Simmons, I Turton, H Marsden.