Report by Stuart Vernon, photos by Tony North

In a tense, exciting Raging Bull Cup encounter the Vale seconds failed to progress to the second round of the competition because they only managed three tries against Fylde’s four, the visitors going through on the count back rule which is triggered in such tied situations.
Fylde’s final try came in the sixty ninth minute to set up a compelling finale as the Vale threw everything into the mix in an attempt to secure victory. They launched a series of attacks to drive Fylde back, deep into their own territory as the Vale’s hard working forwards found another gear with a number of sustained powerful surges.
But in the heat of battle and with adrenalin pumping, plus the lack of a scoreboard to keep the Vale players informed, although the Fylde bench were aware of the situation, the home side went all out for a try perhaps under the impression they needed a five pointer to win.
This was most apparent when they spurned the opportunities to take a shot at goal from penalties, preferring to lob the ball into touch. True they were in control of the sets at this juncture but as any pontoon players will confirm unless you have kept a careful check on the proceedings then sticking or twisting can be gamble. In the end the Vale were really left with no alternative, they could not afford to sit and had to go for broke, banking on a five card pontoon when perhaps something less risky might have brought them the spoils.
Despite the rain of recent days the pitch at The Lane looked at its glistening green best, although a little heavy underfoot in places, as the Vale opened with a five minutes of purposeful rugby They were rewarded for their collective efforts when Kieran Doyle slotted over a penalty goal.
Fylde regrouped and they began to probe the Vale defences, inching forward as the Vale defended stoutly with only the occasional foray into Fylde territory, but the visitor’s persistence eventually prevailed with an unconverted try in the thirty second minute.
This score roused the Vale and in the thirty eighth they retook the lead when their secret weapon, in the shape of replacement Salvador Torres, thundered over for an unconverted try after a well constructed crossfield move, to end the Vale’s first attack for twenty minutes.
With the Vale on a roll they went further ahead when Huw Marsden reacted quickly after he and Jimmy Birchall had executed the perfect pincer movement on a lone Fylde defender, to plunder the ball for an unconverted try.
The Vale experienced a disastrous opening thirteen minutes of the second half when Fylde rattled in two unconverted tries, with both conversions hitting an upright but not bringing any extras in the forty sixth and fifty third minutes.
For the second time in the game the Vale hauled themselves back into contention with a quality score in the fifty seventh minute. The ball was moved crisply; Salvador Torres popped up on the left wing and flipped a pass to Elliott Fowler who touched down wide out for his try which Kieran Doyle expertly guided between the uprights.
But this was a cup tie between two well matched sides, there was plenty left in the tank to ensure a few more twists and turns which all started to kick off when Fylde’s fourth try levelled the scores and put them in the driving seat. As the pressure built on Fylde the Vale cranked up the volume, they catapulted Fylde over their line but were unable to ground the ball but eventually after four agonising minutes of extra time the referee called a halt much to the relief of a jubilant Fylde squad and the despair felt in the Vale camp.
The Vale might have got their sums wrong in the closing hectic minutes but it was a performance to build on. Lock forward Adam Foxcroft claimed a large percentage of line out ball, Dan Rainford was effective at close quarters, Huw Marsden was threat until forced to withdraw with an injury while Salvador Torres appeared in the most unlikely positions to probe the Fylde defence.
In the threequarters Andy Powers beavered away at scrum half, the ball was moved with conviction at times along the line but the opportunities to breakthrough were restricted by a well organised Fylde defence that proved hard to breach.