Vale of Lune 3rd XV 14 pts v 19 pts Aldwinians 2nd X (Report by Fred Swarbrick)

The Vale XV

Owen Branford
Matt Mount
Kyron Sharples ( Grizzly)
Archie Watson
Tom Miller
Dan Blenkharm
Connor Cook
Callum Hall
Lee Starkey
Jamie Antcliffe
Karan Banga
Matti Short
Rich Dewar (Capt.)
Ben Wallace
Henry Connelly
Tom Greaves
Josh Mitton
Finlay Swindlehurst
The Aldwinians XV arrived at Powderhouse Lane as League leaders. Played 5 games won 5 games. The game today was involved in their furthest travel in this Wayne Lord Division 2 North League. The Vale XV were to return to Audenshaw in March.

The Vale XV under the control of Skipper and manager Rich Dewar were aware of the record of the Aldwinians to date. Played 5 Won 5 and top of the League at the present time. They were and are enjoying a great season on their return to The Halbro North West Leagues after problems experienced in the ADM Leagues. The Halbro Leagues do provide regular competitive games on a Saturday to Saturday basis. “ Sorry just blowing my own trumpet”

Both sides were warming up, on what was a pristine surface on the Vale of Lune’s main pitch. A credit, after all the adverse weather over the past few days. The Club must be entirely grateful to the lads involved in the upkeep of the playing areas.

It was clear the Vale lads were up for the game and were fully aware of the successes of the Aldwinian XV to date and were fully prepared for the game. Referee Luca Lanzani had arrived early for the game and was looking forward to plying his trade on the Vale’s expansive main field. He was supported by his Assessor for the game in Mr.David Bateman a regular attendee at Vales games, appointed to offer advice to the appointed Referees.

After 10 minutes it was clear the Aldwinians XV were going to be an experienced, competitive opposition in their needs to overcome the Vale XV. On 15 minutes they crossed in the far corner for 5 points. The conversion failing.

A determined effort from the K.O. took the Vale XV to the Aldwinian line – the Clubhouse end – moving through a number of hands spearheaded by Callum Hall and thence through the hands of the threequarters linking up with Matti Short they crossed with Matti Short claiming the try. Inevitably he converted his own try..

The game moved on – got to say it was one of the best games I’ve witnessed to date at the Club – with the Vale competing strongly against what was a most organised opposition. THEY ARE the top of the League !!

Lee Starkey was enjoying some good ball at the base of the scrum and apart from offering some accurate passing to his threequarters some of his line kicking was providing some great positions to provide attacking opportunities. Lee enjoyed a good game !!

The Vale 8 were clearly in the ascendancy in the set scrums and with a front row of Owen Branford, Matt Mount and Kyron Sharples (Grizzly) they were causing problems for the Adwinians front three. Behind them Archie Watson and Tom Miller were locking the scrum expertly. Both Archie Watson and Tom Miller were, apart from expertly locking the scrum were stealing many balls in the lineout especially on the Aldwinians throw in. What a most mobile back row the Vale were to have in place. Callum Hall a colossus in the loose, breaking tackles in many foraging runs, Dan Blenkharn, I keep saying will never take a step backwards, and then Connor Cook enjoying a most superb game. He was simply everywhere exhibiting so much pace. I must say, to propose the M.O.M. was indeed most difficult, note the comments in the previous sentence but I must offer the M.O.M. to Connor……………..

Hell how do you decide !!!!

At this stage Vale were leading 7 points to 5 points after Matti D. converted his own try. The Aldwinians XV were then forcing the Vale XV back onto the Vale line but an error allowed the Vale to break away with a sweeping movement up the field involving all the threequarters, Jamie Antcliffe, Henry Connelly, Rich Dewar, Finlay Swindlehurst ( enjoying a most competitive input) and Ben Wallace. On what was in effect a pretty miserable day for Koran Banga on the opposite wing was receiving limited ball.

The ball was passed through all hands before Jamie Antcliffe (what a stalwart over his years at the Vale) crossed for a deserved birthday try. 40 years old only yesterday – YES 40 ….

At 14 points to 5 points the Vale XV were looking relatively comfortable but as in many cases the game was to change dramatically. Apart from a move to uncontested scrummaging - where have we experienced this before ? - Callum Hall was to receive a yellow card for handling on the floor in a loose maul. He being a mainstay in the Vale 8 but Referee Luca penalised the incident with a penalty try. 7 points to Aldwinians score 14 – 12.

Connor Cook in preventing another Aldwinians score dragged an Aldwinians player back preventing an inevitable score was yellow carded for a tackle which was deemed to be high. A similar instance occurred earlier in the game, involving the opposition resulting in only a penalty. Referee Luca was in fact enjoying a good game.

With 2 men off the field and in fact two crucial players … in the side as a whole, the Aldwinians lifted their game and crossed for a winning try to 19 points to 14 points after their fly half – Hell he was enjoying a fantastic game – spread the ball wide to allow them to score wideout at the Clubhouse end of the ground.

As a pundit I must say it was one of the best, most competitive games I have seen at the Lane for some time. What a pity the result didn’t finish in OUR FAVOUR but congratulations to the Aldwinians XV. See you in March !!!