PLENTY OF HEROES IN THIS CERO

VALE 'A'  0   WATERLOO 2nds   22
BATEMAN BMW PREMIER DIVISION

F.C Barcelona's rugby union section tilted at the Vale of Lune's Veterans windwill but discovered they were no match for a squad of experienced, pacy, will of the wisp, talented former warriors. But the friendly visitors were without Ronaldinho, Eto'o, Messi etc who were required for a joust against Real Madrid in the Camp Nou.
After the game the tourists produced a groaning board of Catalan delicacies, glasses of fiery liquid with coffee beans, plus the opportunity to drink wine through a fiendish glass contraption that ensured shirt fronts were liberally speckled with red wine.

By the time the 'A' Team kicked off, a heady aroma of garlic and saffron wafted over the ground to assault the nostrils of the spectators whose thoughts were drifting towards the possible contruction of a new clubhouse complex opposite the East Terrace.

The Andalucia region of Spain has been used as part of the backdrop for numerous 'Spaghetti Westerns' and while the 'A' Team did not come away with a 'Fistful of Dollars' they produced another commendable performance, this time against a well organised posse of gunslingers from Waterloo.
Issac Turton and Joe Clarkson were a lively pistol packing duo, while Graham Lumsden, Lee Jones, Andy McCluskie and Alistair Richards were threequarters who were not afraid to put their heads above the parapet. For long periods the Vale pinned Waterloo down and had them well within their sights but they were unable to break through their tight circle of wagons.

Waterloo's raiding parties were well tooled up but they were unable to impose themselves until the closing eight minutes when they ripped through a Vale side that was low on ammo to plunder twelve points.

There was plenty to talk about in the saloon when the gun smoke had cleared, not least of all that the Vale have to blaze a few more trails before they can gallop off into the sunset, but they have walked tall in this most difficult of seasons, with many youngsters earning their spurs.
The Vale and Waterloo produced an entertaining game that hardly reflected their respective league positions, the Vale being next to the bottom and Waterloo in second place. There was nothing that could be considered 'bad' or 'ugly' with the 'good' being provided by Waterloo's vibrant physio; she sped onto the field faster than the 'Deadwood Stage' to treat the injured of either side, Muchas Gracias, Senorita.

VALE OF LUNE:  J.Antcliffe (Capt), A.Richards, L.Jones, A.McCluskie, G.Lumsden (Rep A.Todd 50), A.Melville, R.Ralulu, L.Jackson (Rep A.Sutcliffe 40), P.Brett Smith (Rep M.Sutcliffe 75), D.Halliwell, L.Farnworth, M.Speight, J.Clarkson, M.Shaw, I.Turton.