Vale “B” 18 – Upper Eden 2nds 14

Miller Homes Division Three North

Despite the five week break in their season the Vale hit the ground running and amassed all their points in a stunning first half performance. Although the visitors beefed up their pack in the second half the Vale were too well organised and committed to relinquish their fourth deserved victory on the trot.

Straight from the opening blast on the whistle the Vale launched an attack and with stand off Leon Gierke pulling the strings behind a well organised pack the Vale raced to a 13-0 lead inside twenty minutes.

A well executed run-around move involving Gierke ended with Matt Thackeray powering over for a try converted with aplomb by Martin Powell with a well struck kick from a far from easy angle. Powell slotted two penalty goals as Upper Eden struggled to gain a foothold in the game.

The Vale played some scintillating rugby and as the half drew to a close another slick handling movement stretched the visitor’s defence, Mike Hazelgrave exploited the overlap created with an unconverted try.

Upper Eden came more into the game in the second forty but the Vale remained in control, although the opportunities to increase their score were restricted. In Vale’s pack, prop Gavin Speak produced a rock solid tireless performance but victory was built around a splendid team performance as the Vale avenged a defeat at Kirkby Stephen earlier in the season.

Vale “B”: J Antcliffe; D Hughes, M Thackeray, P Scott, M Hazelgrave; L Gierke, S Briggs; D Eames, J Whitty, G Speak; S Middlehurst, D Rainford; D Hickling, D Harrison, M Powell.

Reps used: J Whyke, C Brown, J Welsh, T Hayes, J Burns.

Vale “B” 37   -    7    Bolton 3rds

Miller Home Division Three North

Saturday 12th December  2009

Leon Gierke crowned a bubbly performance by being named Man of the Match and collecting a bottle of fizz kindly donated by Mrs Pat Atkinson in memory of her husband Peter. The stand off’s hat trick being an integral component in the Vale’s third victory on the trot. 

The Vale were always in control but it took them a while to break down some stubborn resistance from the visitors, but once the cork had been released the points began to flow.

Stuart Middlehurst opened the scoring with a powerful surge after the in form Matt Thackeray had drew in the cover. Gierke opened his account, rounding off a neat and precise threequarter move. Martin Powell kicked a penalty goal and converted a second Gierke try before the interval.

The second half followed the pattern of the first forty with the well drilled Vale pack providing the backs with a steady supply of quality ball. Replacement Paul Morris burst onto the scene with a try after a strong run through the heart of the Bolton defence.

Paul Scott, who was a constant threat throughout, dashed eighty metres to set up Gierke’s third try. A well constructed move ended with Scott collecting a deserved try converted by Powell to complete another excellent bubbly team performance. The Vale are growing in confidence but they are fully aware they will face a testing away game against Clitheroe’s first team and will be hoping that the sparkle still remains.

Against Bolton the Vale had a full squad of players, with Paul Wolfenden volunteering to play for the visitors in the second half when they were reduced to fourteen players. Cheers!

Vale “B”: M Hazlegrove;  D Hughes, M Thackeray, P Scott, S Middlehurst;         L Gierke, S Briggs;  G Surtees, J Whitty, G Speak;  D Eames, D Hickling;             M Powell, D Harrison, M Manning.

Replacements used: C Brown, G Summers, P Morris, S Hodgson, T Austin.

Kirkby Lonsdale 2nds 19 Vale “B” 25

Saturday 5th December 2009 

Miller Homes Division Three North

Sometime it can be a lonely vigil standing at a bus stop. Endless metres devoid of an omnibus and then suddenly two appear. This scenario is familiar to Vale’s fourth team. They went from September 12 until the end of November without a win and then followed this victory up with a splendid win at Underley Park. The waiting was well worth it!

 Late cry off’s, coupled with a number of regulars being unavailable, meant the Vale travelled the short distance up the Lune Valley with only fifteen players. Included in the team were two newcomers, full back Ryan and scrum half Rob Sinclair and both played their part in masterminding the win. 

 Vale made the ideal start on a heavy pitch when Leon Gierke lashed over a penalty goal from half way. But a young Kirkby Lonsdale side came back with a try after a relieving kick was charged down. This was followed by a well worked back row move which resulted in a converted try. Just before half time the Vale registered a confidence boosting try from the alert Mike Hazlegrove after an attack down the short side.

 At the start of the second half, the Vale, following an inspiring half time talk from Paul Antcliffe, were quickly into their stride. Full back Ryan, collected a wayward kick to side step and jink his way deep into Kirkby territory. When he was eventually stopped he offloaded the ball to scrum half Rob Sinclair, to round off a thrilling move with an unconverted try.

 Vale went further ahead when the lively Gierke, showing his renowned soccer skills, chipped ahead, dribbled the ball expertly over the surface before sweeping it up for an unconverted try. Quality passing by the threequarters stretched the home side’s defence. Ryan came into the line at pace, drew in the last defender before passing to Paul Scott for a try converted by Gierke.

 Kirkby mounted a series off attacks late in the game to put themselves into contention with a converted try, but the Vale’s uncompromising tackling ensured victory at Underley Park.

 In Vale’s all action back row Chris Brown secured quality line out ball which allowed  Gavin Speak and his fellow forwards to make effective use of the rolling maul before  the ball was released to an inventive back division. It was a win for the whole team to celebrate and hopefully they will not have to hang around so long for their next brace of victories.

 Vale “B”: A Ryan; S Middlehurst, L Gierke, P Scott, M Hazlegrove; D Hughes, R Sinclair; G Surtees, J Whitty, G Speak; D Eames, D Hickling; M Powell, C Brown, M Manning.

Vale “B” 19    Fylde 4ths 9

 28/11/09

Vale’s fourth string had lost six games on the bounce since their fifteen all draw against the Vikings at the beginning of October and had not won since the twelfth of September so it was doubles all round after their victory against Fylde.

Both teams opened strongly with the visitors taking the lead after the Vale had conceded a silly penalty. The Vale hit back immediately when following a slick exchange of passes the hard working Paul Scott was given both time and space to dot the ball down for his try which Leon Gierke converted.

Fylde regained the lead with a brace of penalties as the Vale’s lack of discipline surfaced again and was duly punished. But it was the home side that finished the half on a high note after Matty Coates, who made a massive contribution throughout, rounded off another neat threequarter move with an unconverted try. 

Vale took the game to Fylde at the beginning of the second half. The influential Dave Harrison began to make his presence felt, the back row forward receiving valuable support from Stuart Middlehurst and Martin Powell; these two players enjoying the new found excitement of playing with the “big boys.”

In the backs Jamie Antcliffe was rock solid, pulling off a try saving tackle late in the game, in addition to bringing extra pace when he came into the line. Matt Thackeray posed a threat throughout in a lively enterprising back division.

With fifteen minutes remaining Antcliffe side stepped his way over after a well worked miss move, Gierke converted. Vale’s replacements made an instant impact with Paul Morris quickly into the action.

Further scoring opportunities were created by the Vale but they were unable to ground the ball to the referee’s satisfaction, but after the frustrations and disappointments of recent weeks it was a victory to savour.  

Vale “B”: J Antcliffe; M Coates, M Thackeray, P Scott, T Austin; L Gierke, S Briggs; G Surtees, J Whitty, D Eames; S Middlehurst, D Hickling; M Powell, M Manning, D Harrison. Replacements used: P Morris, C Brown, P Ward, J Hartley, Si Middlehurst.

Vale “B”        5   -  33       Thornton Cleveleys 1sts

Miller Homes Division Three North

14/11/09

The “B” team were without a number of their regular players and although they made all the running in the opening quarter they began to lose their composure and allowed the visitors to dictate for long periods.

Leon Gierke opened the scoring for the Vale with a neatly taken opportunist try when he chased a kick ahead. Chances to build on their lead were created but a couple of penalties whistled wide of the target.

Gradually Thornton Cleveleys’ skipper, an experienced stand off began to pull the strings, and in combination with his number eight gaps in the home side’s defence were exploited. Overall it was a disappointing outcome for the Vale who were unable to sustain their early promise.

Vale “B”: M Coates; P Scott, L Gierke, G Glennon, S Middlehurst; M Powell, M Hazelgrove; G Surtees, J Whitty, G Speak; D Hickling, D Rainford; C Brown, Si Middlehurst, M Manning. Replacements used: P Antcliffe, S Hodson, P Wolfenden.