ONE DOWN: NINE TO GO

VALE OF LUNE 14   LEIGH 12
NORTH TWO WEST

Leigh's travelling support arrived en-bloc, good humoured, knowledgeably dedicated ambassadors carrying on the traditions of a club formed in 1949 at Leigh Technical College to play rugby union, a decision of revolutionary proportions in a veritable furnace of rugby league; they became officially known as Leigh RUFC in 1956.

Treasurer Margaret was spotted disappearing into the referee's changing room shortly after her arrival..........

Referee, "Young" Sam Dunkley, an up and coming official who appears destined for higher things - don't forget you read it here first - looked a little circumspect when this information was relayed to him. After all it was his first visit to 'The Lane' and it might be one of those local traditions! Had she gone in to turn the heating up, or to run a warm bath of invigorating oils, perhaps place scented candles at strategic points, or put a tube of "Deep Heat" on the radiator? Alas, Margaret had only gone in to leave the Match Result Card! 

When the Vale of Lune had visited Leigh at the beginning of November they had been given the choice of two splendid locally brewed ales. In the clubhouse the Vale had only one coursing through the pipes, courtesy of the match sponsor, "The Sun Hotel", called "Blondie". For visitors to Lancaster, The Sun Hotel and Bar is well worth seeking out, full of history, good ales and food.

"Blondie" is certainly an acquired taste reported one of the Alies, who are always ready to take on a challenge, especially if it involves food and drink. So they set about the task with a vengeance and just when they were starting to savour the taste the barrels ran dry.
The atmosphere at the pre match meal was rather subdued; the importance of the coming eighty minutes never far from anyone's thoughts, or the condition of Liam lying injured at the bottom of a disused slate mine in Cumbria.

Checking the Leigh team it was discovered that full back, Paul Wilcocks was not playing. In the previous meeting Paul had wreaked havoc, even though he been watched against Broughton Park the week before. The news of Paul's absence was relayed faster than a horse could gallop from Ghent to Aix. Battle plans were scrubbed, biros flashed in the weak sunlight as new tactics were drawn up.

Someone who is used to changing tack in the heat of the battle is the Major. He arrived sporting a Russian winter hat, complete with a Red Star, no doubt wrestled from the head of an unsuspecting Cossack when our "Cold War Warrior" ensured we slept safely in our beds at those uncertain times when West faced East.

There was nothing tepid about the opening to the game as Leigh went straight for the jugular. Somehow the Vale survived this early barrage, but the cut and thrust continued until the thirtieth minute when Adam Armstrong kicked a penalty goal. Four minutes later a catch and drive from five metres out ended with the ebullient Matt Prescott claiming an unconverted try. A rip roaring half ended with Adam effortlessly curling over a second penalty.

At half time, the East Terrace brigade debated whether a one point lead would be enough, in view of the fact that Leigh would have the use of a strong wind which blew from the Clubhouse end. A discussion about whether the Polo Tower from Morecambe would make an ideal Press Centre was not fully explored, although the Press Secretary's and Commercial Manager's imagination was roaring away at full throttle at such a prospect as the two teams appeared from their huddle.

Everything came down to earth at the start of the second half. Leigh pounded away at a Vale side that could hardly get out of their twenty two, let alone venture into Leigh territory. The hard working visitors stand off, Steve Peacock, missed with a penalty goal and drop kick before the Vale confounded all the sceptics with a peach of a try in the sixty third minute.

Centre, Craig Orrick, all rippling muscles and thundering thighs, ripped down the middle. Adam appeared on his left elbow to take a delicately weighted pass, but some thought that Craig could have gone all the way. Leigh were hopelessly outnumbered, Adam made certain of a score when he released James Hodder, the "Golden Arrow" cart wheeling his way over for his way to a fifth try of the season. Adam's conversion, beautifully crafted from the left touchline, hit an upright but stayed out.

There was hardly time for Enty to flip open another pack pf cigars before Leigh had grabbed the lead, big time. While the Vale were hammering out their predictive texts, Steve Peacock gleefully accepted the Freedom of Powder House Lane to sail through a statuesque defence for a try between the posts which he converted.

With three minutes of proper time remaining Leigh became all hot and bothered in defence and conceded a penalty which Adam put over from twenty five metres out, but head on to the target. The tension increased as the game moved into stoppage time and it appeared all over for the Vale and the popular Phil Jackson, who was making his 200th appearance, when Leigh were awarded a penalty forty metres out. Up stepped Terry Knapman but in total silence except for the sound of his boot making contact with the ball, his kick which might well have torpedoed the Vale's hopes of survival, fell short.

So the fight continues over at Tyldesley on January 19th, "The Tide is High" after the Leigh game, and a new mantra is on everyone's lips; "It's not where you start, it's where you finish!" Except the Alies who were trying to discover when they might need to use a 'Willy Wash' and what was Winny rambling about when he talked about a "dichotomy of space". Was it something that happened in Des Moines?

VALE OF LUNE  P.Jackson, D.Schuyler (Rep G.Barton 54), A.Cowey (Rep D.Halliwell 54), L.Farnworth, L.Acton, D.Perry (Rep M.Whittaker 74), D.Lin, M.Fowler (Capt), O.Hughes, N.Foster, A.Richards, A.Garnett, C.Orrick, J.Hodder, A.Armstrong.

Match Sponsor;  The Sun Hotel and Bar, Lancaster