Third win in a row for Vale of Lune

MATCH REPORT: Vale of Lune 33 Winnington Park 26

Winter approaches and the big coats come out. At Powder House Lane, the hatches were properly battened down and siege mentality commenced.

On the back of two wins, and about to face the team at the bottom of the NW2 league table, there was every reason for confidence. Winnington Park had other ideas. 

With talisman Damon Hall restored to the starting lineup, Captain Marvel Jack Ayrton celebrating his 200th first team appearance and the lively Matt Ridler making his first team debut on the wing, the scene was set for a splendid show.

Winnington Park upset that plan with an early try in the right corner after 14 minutes.

The Vale shook off the cobwebs and took control. Centre Alfie Bolton struck out for the line and despite being stopped in his tracks by a hammer of a tackle, he stayed upright, pressed on and touched down to the left of the uprights. Hall converted and the lead was taken. 

A similar 'stop-me-I-dare-you' surge from winger Campbell Murrell put Harry Fellows in to score the second Vale try.

Photo by Tony North

Hall was again accurate with the boot, and the subsequent passages of play were all at his command. repeatedly jinking through the bewildered WP defence. Hall called the tune.

A left flank sprint from the halfway line and a chip-and-chase into the dead-ball area seemed a lost cause, but Hall does not think like other mortals. He pounced on a fumble by his opposite number and took the spoils, along with the conversion points.

Winnington came back with a rolling maul try on the stroke of half time, making the score 21-12 at the break. 

From the restart, the visitors took the initiative, pressing deep into the Vale half. The Vale kept their composure and drove the play into Winnington territory.

A forwards' try by Sam Wallbank showed the way. Another power-play in the right corner saw Andy Powers top-off a driving maul to score.

The game seemed to be beyond the realms of surprise, but the Cheshire men found another gear and crossed the line matching the Vale's signature move of a rolling maul. 

Another converted try by Winnington cast what had been a comfortable Vale lead into a zone of danger. Being only one score from equalling the Vale's tally gave the home crowd some nervous moments, but the team's resolve remained intact to the final whistle.

Five NW2 league points to the Vale and two for Winnington Park was a fair allocation of the day's takings. 

Man-of-the-match was player/coach Mark Goodman (below), who had been at the core of the forward campaign.

Vale travel to Sandbach next Saturday on the crest of three wins. No team in this league can afford to underestimate the resilience and appetite of this Vale side. Those sitting higher in the league table ought to watch out.    

Team:    A. Fowler, A. Powers, G. Oyston, H. Fellows, T. Nicholson, S. Wallbank, M. Goodman, J. Ayrton (c), J. Batty, J. Silverwood, M. Ridler, A. Bolton, C. Ramwell, C. Murrell, D. Hall.   Reps: M. Mount, M. Goodman, R. Pillow.