Raging Bull Senior Colts League Cup Quarter Final Vale 8 - Fleetwood 48
Sunday 28th Mar 2010
Vale of Lune’s Senior Colts season came to a grinding holt on Sunday against a highly skilful and powerful Fleetwood Senior Colts. Through the season Vale have been competing in League E and they now found themselves against a team from League B, the prospect did not haunt the home side and the score line flatters the visitors as until the final 10minutes Vale were very competitive and gave everything without much reward.
Vale went into the game full of confidence, and with a strong squad of 22 to use throughout the game, the thoughts of a semi final place were a reality and the first 10minutes of the game proved how far the home side have come this season. Vale were battling away in the visitors 22 for a sustained period of time, skipper Clarkson and O’Donnell making meters every time they got hands on the ball. Fleetwood’s defence held firm and a difficult missed penalty added to the early woes. Fleetwood then gained the upper hand with their outstanding stand off jinking in and out of the Vale team to cross out wide for an unconverted try.
Vale were then on the back foot again, but superb defending from Hatton, Hall and O’Brien kept the Fleet side out and as the home side launched and attack the visitors gave away a penalty with Fawcett duly took. Back cam Fleetwood and the next 10minutes were a disaster for the home side with two converted tries produced from the stand off who was without doubt the thorn in the Vale side, a penalty from 10 added to the score line.
As half time approached the Vale managed to string several plays together and finally had Fleetwood worried and back pedalling. Pace from Jones and support from Whyke and Haddow created a phase which saw Clarkson power over for a well deserved try. The half time score stood at 8-22 and Vale had it all to play for.
The second half was not how it was planned, Vale playing into a strong wind were put on the back foot by Fleet continually but strong defence from the home side kept the visitors at bay. When Vale launched attacks they were duly halted by a powerful Fleetwood forward pack and some costly mistakes meant it was never going to be Vale’s day. Their best chance created by the impressive Haddow who beat 2 defenders and gave Lebaldi and Jones the overlap but a wayward pass meant it was not meant to be.
As the game went into the last 15minutes Vale began chasing the game taking tap penalties and stringing the ball around but this caused mistakes which the Fleet took advantage of and chances to attack which they did and used the spaces to their advantage. Another 4 tries, 3 of which were converted, rounded off a good performance from the away side and who will truly be in with a shot of winning the competition.
The final score ended 8-48 but as Vale were chasing the game the score line does not do justice for the home side who had a never say die attitude, showed how much they have improved as a team through out the season and proved how mature they are to accept defeat by a better side. The Senior Colts season draws to a close now with a League title and a Cup quarter final place, due reward for a side put back together this season and many years of struggle. Easter Saturday sees them play a touring side from Weston Super Mare RFC which will be a fitting end for a great bunch on lads, and many of these players will carry on wearing the red and white of Vale in the Senior teams in many years to come so keep an eye on the names!!!!
Vale- 15.Adam Newton 14.Chris Jones 13.Jake Haddow 12.Ryan Fawcett 11.Gareth Katsande 10.Danny Harris 9.Josh Whyke 8.Sam Clarkson 7.Martin Hall 6.Josh O’Donnell 5.Dale Jeffreys 4.Elliott Hatton 3.Jake Edlin 2.Rob O’Brien 1.Matty Watson.
Subs- 16.Lewis Aspinall 17.Brian Coulton 18.Robbie Martin 19.Ben Charnley 20.Dave Swinden 21.Antonio Lebaldi 22.Michael Clark



