After the disappointment of the performance against Lymm last week, Vale of Lune bounced right back with a fine performance to win 24-7 at Sandbach. It was a victory that boosted Vale’s league position and thrilled their travelling supporters.  From the kick off, they dominated the game, refusing to allow their talented opponents too much time to build up moves.  The Vale forwards were in control throughout and as a result, the highly rated Sandbach backs were rarely in the game. Fergus Owens scored the first of Vale’s three tries when he collected a poor kick out of defence and danced through the defence for the touch town which Neale Foster converted.  Near the end of the half, James Hodder touched down after good work by Darren Wilson and Danny Lin.  Again, Foster converted.  Sandbach came back briefly with a try soon after the interval, but Vale regained control and a penalty from Foster regained the initiative. A try by man of the match Wilson in the dying minutes put the seal on Vale’s victory.  Foster was on target again with the conversion.

Vale of Lune’s recent runs of successes came to an end at Powderhouse Lane on Saturday when they were beaten 25-8 by league leaders Lymm.  In the end, the champions elect were good value for their win, but they were made to fight all the way by a Vale side that never really captured the true form of more recent weeks.  Two tries, a penalty and a conversion gave the visitors a 15-0 interval lead. But soon after the restart, prop Andrew Sutcliffe powered over for a fine try and when James Hodder added a penalty Vale were right back in the game.  And for a period they put the Lymm defence under some pressure, but they survived and hit back with two late tries to keep their promotion hopes on track.

Vale of Lune 8-6 victory over second in the table Northwich has helped them jump another place in the league.  It was an excellent win over a side that had thrashed them 41-5 earlier in the season and much of it was due to a stubborn and brave defence.  For long period Vale were under pressure, but they they never wilted and prevented the opposition from scoring a try for the first time this season.  There is no doubting Northwich are the best side Vale have played this term and the players all deserve credit for the way they stood up to to some powerful attacking moves.  In the end, though, Vale scored the only try through Danny Lin  after a good line-out steal and James Hodder’s second half penalty earned them the narrow win.  Northwich’s points came from the trusty boot of Dodo Muntean.  Next Vale take on league leaders Lymm at Powderhouse Lane on Saturday.

An impressive performance from new scrum-half Darren Wilson helped Vale to a fine 32-29 victory at new Brighton.  Wilson scored the first try – a brilliant individual effort – and had a hand in another two of Vale’s four tries.  The game swung from end to end with both sides looking capable of victory.  New Brighton have a fearsome pack and tried to establish forward superiority.  But whilst three of their tries came from that forward power, their much younger Vale opponents refused to be intimidated.  And in the end it was Vale superior back play that proved decisive with Fergus Owens creating opening that led to further tries by Sam Wallbank and Andy Garnett and Luke Ford stealing a touch down from broken play near to the opposition line.  Fullback Neale Foster, playing his first game of the season after recovering from a broken leg, converted three and kicked two penalties.  Vale have now overtaken New Brighton in the league.

A man of the match performance from the veteran Ian Bird helped inspire Vale to a great 20-15 victory over old rivals Broughton Park at Powderhouse Lane on Saturday. And in doing so, the centre scored his 99th try for the club.  His was one of three Vale touch downs in a performance that cheered the crowd and helped ease the club’s position in the table.  The first half was heavily disrupted by injuries and although a James Hodder penalty had given Vale an early lead it was not until the interval neared that more points followed with Fergus Owens crossing for a try after a wonderfully timed pass from Neil Bennetts.  Soon after Bird crossed for his try and with a Hodder conversion Vale were looking good value for a win.  But they relaxed and some sloppy defence allowed Park back and a penalty and an unconverted try meant Vale only led 15-8 at half time. In the second half Park looked the better side for a long period, but to Vale’s credit they defended with spirit and courage and having withstood that pressure they hit back with a well worked try from Danny Lin after a line-out.  Again Vale looked to be cruising to victory, but in the last move of the game Brroughton Park scored a try which was converted.

After a pitch inspection this morning, Vale of Lune’s game against Lymm has been called off.  The ground is frozen and to play would have been too dangerous.  Ground committee chairman, Geoff Marsden said: “Even with the mid-morning sunshine there seems little chance of the pitch thawing out.”

Vale of Lune went down 29-21 at Liverpool St Helens, but in defeat they showed plenty of spirit against a good side several places above them in the league.  There was little to chose between the sides during a lifeless first half with the home side leading with three penalties to two from Vale’s James Hodder.  Liverpool SH quickly increased their lead with a try soon after the re-start, but Vale hit back when Fraser Spavin dashed over from a line-out.  But during a period of great pressure the hosts scored another well worked converted try and looked home and dry.  Hodder did add another penalty, but then in injury time Liverpool scored a try to stretch their lead to 29-14.  Within time running out Vale hit back again, this time it was centre Marc Kellett who created a try for himself, touching down under the posts.  Hodder converted with the last kick of the game.

All Vale of Lune’s games called off during the recent spate of ice and snow, have now been rearranged.  They will now play Broughton Park at home on 6th February, will be away at Burnage on 27th February and will host Leigh in the last game of the season on 17th April.   All of the A, Vikings and B teams games are in the process of being rearranged and these dates will soon be available by clicking on the team pages.   New scrum-half Darren Wilson makes his debut for Vale at Liverpool on Saturday.  For the full team click on the team page.