ALL THE THREE'S, DIRTY KNEE: BINGO!

VALE OF LUNE 33  STOKE ON TRENT 3
NORTH TWO WEST

He strode powerfully and purposefully towards the changing rooms carrying a bowl of hot water, his marigolds flashing in the strong winter sunshine; obviously a man on a mission.
Three days earlier he had accepted, on behalf of the Vale of Lune, the prestigious and much coveted 'Whistlers Trophy' at the Manchester and District Rugby Union Referees Society Annual Dinner at Manchester F.C. In addition he had also been presented with a glittering piece of glassware in recognition of 35 years service to the Society.

Yes, it was our own 'Golly Gilly'. But the tables in the changing rooms needed cleaning. Before that he had swabbed out the toilet and put a new roll of paper in the holder, he has his own key for this vital piece of apparatus; such labours of love, enough to set a tremulous heart beating.
But hold hard! The morning was far from over. There was a bonfire yet to be lit and a pile of discarded furniture to be disposed of, plus as many twigs and branches his fellow fire raiser, Clifford, could drag down the hillside. These two are raising the bar; a 'Grand Cru' fire lighting badge has to be earned.

Come Saturday, the fires are being kindled elsewhere, and by 2.15 it was eyes down time. Against Stoke on Trent the Vale held their supporters in suspense for the opening quarter of an hour. A number of calls were missed and if the home side were going to achieve anything like a full house then more concentration was going to be needed.
After fifteen minutes the dabbers started blacking out the numbers. Man of the Match James Bryan eased himself into an overlap situation and then galloped away for a try converted by Andy Garnett. 'LUCKY SEVEN'. Just after the midway point of the half, Dave Halliwell charged into Stoke's twenty two. The ball was recycled with precision; Andy Miller ghosted into the line to weave his gossamer way over for a try, Andy Garnett again converting. ST VALENTINE'S DAY'

Play popped and occasionally sparkled on a warm afternoon. Stoke threatened with a brace of five metre lineouts, the Vale rebuffed their advances, not quite as witheringly as Tracey Barlow did with David Platt's proposition, but the visitors were forced to chase back into their own half when the Vale broke out.
The felt tips were hammering away just before the interval. Vale's forwards linked arms from close range and Danny Lin was whisked over the line for an unconverted try. 'GOODBYE TEENS'

In the first minute of the second half, before the Vale had digested their Danish Pastries, Stoke's stand off, Steve Talbot, kicked a penalty goal. 'CUP OF TEA'. After playing sit down bingo for a few minites the Vale were soon back on their feet. James Curran chased down a Neil Bennetts kick to force a hurried clearance. From a ten metre line out, Dan Perry caught the ball, a swift transfer presented tail gunner Dave Halliwell with an unequal one on one confrontation. The lock forward ignited the jet pack and before the smoke had cleared Andy Garnett had put over the conversion in the fifty third minute. 'PICK AND MIX'.

All Vale's replacements were used as the game gently meandered towards the final whistle. In the build up to the fifth try, Ian Bird and James Bryan combined well; James Curran appeared on the opposite wing prior to the forwards bustling their way to the line. It looked odds on that a forward would claim a try but it was a beaming Ian Bird who emerged with the ball; the transition from centre to predatory back row forward had been seamless. Andy Garnett lifted the conversion over from wide out with fifteen minutes left and the final number of the afternoon was called. 'DIRTY KNEE'

In the clubhouse later, raffle ticket sellers, Gill and Val, took no prisoners; the new furniture in the County Bar looked a perfect match, 'Everard, bring the polish and your fluffy duster!' before a game of Subbuteo soccer filled the big screen.

VALE OF LUNE: A.Miller, J.Bryan, A.Garnett, I.Bird, J.Curran, N.Bennetts (Capt) (Rep R.Thorn 56), J.Bleasdale (Rep A. Bolsover 62), P.Jackson, D.Schuyler (Rep G.Barton 58), A.Cowey, D.Halliwell, D.Perry, L.Ford, D.Lin, M.Fowler.

Bannister Bates Man of the Match - James Bryan
Match Sponsors - Halbro Sportswear and Carlsberg Tetley
Match Ball Sponsor - George Dickson