Rossendale 2nds 32  -  Vale “B” 12

Miller Homes Division Three North

Saturday 20th February 2010

Vale’s fourth team travelled to Rossendale to take on the league leaders and in a tough encounter had little time to admire the Alpine scenery that formed an impressive backdrop to the pitches at the Marlpits Sports Centre.

Although the home side ran out eventual winners they did not find the Vale an easy pushover unlike the last meeting at Powder House Lane when they won at a canter, 58-10.

Rossendale opened the scoring with an interception try but the expected avalanche failed to materialise as the Vale battled their way back into contention. From a tap penalty Glen Summers thundered over from close range with a number of Rossendale players clinging to his jersey.

The game remained evenly poised until the closing minutes of the half when Rossendale added a penalty and a try. In the second half Rossendale gradually increased their lead but the Vale came back into contention with a splendid solo try from scrum half Matthew Hurst, converted by Martin Powell.

Sensing the danger Rossendale, the league’s pace setters, regrouped to extend their lead and to keep the Vale at arm’s length for the remainder of the game.

Full back Jonathan Archer courageously throughout in what was a pleasing team performance, unfortunately the Vale had to play the second hard without their hard working prop, John Burns who suffered a recurrence of a neck injury.

Vale “B”: J Archer; D Hughes, S Middlehurst, P Scott, M Hazelgrave; L Gierke, M Hurst; G Surtees, J Whitty, J Burns; C Brown, G Summers; D Hickling, D Harrison, M Powell.

Replacements: S Hodgson, R Dewar, T Austin.

Vale “B” 37  -  Bolton 2nds 34

Saturday 13/02/10 

Miller Homes Division Three North

Referee Ryan Fish is growing in stature and despite his youthful, angelic looks he is no pushover and should not be considered a soft touch. In a robust encounter he refused to be intimidated, applied the letter of the law, and was not afraid to issue the appropriately coloured cards, as players from both sides were to discover to their cost.

The home side led 34-7 at half time against a Bolton side that began to lose their early composure. But the visitors came back strongly in the second half, when the Vale struggled to maintain, not only their shape but also their discipline, to level the game, before Martin Powell dramatically secured victory in the closing minutes with a well struck penalty goal.

Powell, who had left his kicking boots behind for the previous week’s encounter against Pendle, was in magnificent form; kicking five penalties, including the match winner, a number being from difficult positions, plus a conversion.

Stuart Middlehurst opened the scoring for the Vale when he took advantage of an overlap to score an unconverted try. Bolton hit back with a converted try but their lack of discipline resulted in players being sent to the sin bin, the Vale took full advantage of the situation to increase their score.

Mike Hazelgrave and the strong running Matt Thackeray ran in tries against a stretched defence, and Derek Eames peeled off a scrum to bulldoze his way over, while “Mr Boot” ensured the Vale turned round with a healthy lead.

This quickly evaporated as Bolton rallied in the second half and the Vale’s game began to fragment. Their cause was not helped when Jonathan Archer was shown red and under considerable pressure the Vale saw their lead gradually whittled away by a determined Bolton side. But with the game drifting towards a draw Powell picked Bolton’s pockets with his successful penalty to save the Vale’s blushes.

Jamie Antcliffe played an influential role throughout, Powell was ice cool, but the Vale played the second forty without one of their talismen, lock Dan Rainford, who was taken to hospital with an ankle injury.

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

Reps: G Summers, G Surtees, S Hodgson, C Brown, Si Middlehurst.

Vale “B” 17  -  Pendle 1sts 17

Miller Homes Division Three North

6^th February 2010

At the end of September the Vale suffered a massive defeat over at Pendle, but they turned things around with a tremendous performance to ensure the points were shared after battling their way back into contention in the second half. However, the Vale were left to reflect on the number of missed attempts from conversions or penalties.

Pendle’s experience scrum half was instrumental in setting up his side’s first score but the Vale came back to level the scores when their in-form prop, Gavin Speak forced his way over from close range.

A series of missed tackles allowed the visitors to score an opportunists try before half time. 

This score was a body blow to the Vale, but they regrouped, tightened up their game and started to play with increasing confidence. Leon Gierke kicked ahead, the alert Mike Hazelgrave collected the ball, drew in the Pendle full back before flicking a pass to Paul Scott to touch down for an unconverted try.

The Vale drew level with twelve minutes remaining with a perfectly executed passage of inventive rugby. With all the action taking place on one side of the field, Gierke cross kicked to the wide open spaces. Jonathan Archer anticipated the tactic, took the ball in full flight to score wide out, with Gierke, facing the most difficult kick of the game, adding the extras with a conversion from wide out.

Lock Dan Rainford again put in a full shift both inside and outside the boiler room, Jamie Antcliffe produced a most accomplished performance first at full back and later in the game as a replacement scrum half in a fixture where the Vale deserved to share the points.

Vale “B”: J Antcliffe; D Hughes, M Thackeray, P Scott, M Hazelgrave; L Gierke, J Whyke; J Burns, G Surtees, G Speak; D Rainford, D Hickling; P Morris, D Harrison, M Powell.

Reps: C Brown, G Summers, D Eames, S Middlehurst, J Archer, T Hayes

Saturday 30th January 2010

Fleetwood 2nds 23   -    Vale “B” 13

Miller Homes Division Three North

 Vale’s splendid winning sequence, which stretched back to the end of November, was halted by Fleetwood’s title chasing second team at Melbourne Avenue, in one of the three Division Three North games played.

 Of course there was a degree of disappointment at the final outcome in the Vale camp, but they produced a battling performance against a team that grew in confidence, despite being reduced to fourteen players in the second half.

 The opening twenty minutes were evenly contested but Fleetwood went ahead with a try wide out following a move engineered by their lively half backs, this duo posed a threat throughout. Martin Powell kicked a long range penalty for the Vale from just inside the Fleetwood half as the Vale forwards began to take control.

 From a solid platform the ball was moved to the left. Simon Middlehurst took on two Fleetwood defenders, blasting through their tackles on his way to an unconverted try. The home side levelled the scores but in the closing minutes tempers flared, resulting in a Fleetwood player being shown a red card.

 Early in the second half the Vale were awarded a penalty but with their scrum on top and the opposition reduced in numbers they opted for a scrum. Fleetwood were trundled back over their own goal line with Dean Hickling claiming a deserved unconverted try.

 The turning point of the game occurred when the Vale were penalised at a scrum on the half way line and from a quickly taken tap Fleetwood’s scrum half streaked away for a converted try between the posts. This score inspired the home side who began to move the ball freely and stretch the Vale on their way to victory.

 For the Vale Dan Rainford played to his potential with a barn storming performance, Gavin Speak was rock solid in a pack that dominated for long periods, while in the threequarters Matt Thackeray was strong in both defence and attack. Replacement Jonathan Archer came on in the second half after a long lay through injury; he quickly picked up the pace and suffered no adverse reaction.

 Vale “B”: M Hazelgrave;   T Austin, M Thackeray, P Scott, S Middlehurst;   D Hughes, S Briggs;   G Speak, J Whitty, J Burns;   D Hickling, D Rainford;  C Brown, D Harrison, M Powell.

Reps used: P Morris, G Surtees, J Whyke, J Archer.