Vale of Lune battle the storm for Burnage draw

MATCH REPORT: Burnage 19 Vale of Lune 19

Another Saturday, another storm.

Whilst home games were abandoned due to waterlogged pitches, the artificial playing surface at Burnage, South Manchester, remained in use for this mid-table clash.

As the players ran out onto the floodlit pitch, the piercing rain came in at a 45 degree angle. 

Denied shelter and dodging flying umbrellas, spectators and officials huddled for protection from the elements.

Meanwhile, on the G4, the Vale showed admirable focus to take the initiative. Burnage were under the cosh for the first 15 minutes.

The Vale forwards controlled the greasy ball, edging deeper into Burnage territory. A final push allowed Sam Wallbank to strike with a try on the left. High winds made kicking tricky and the conversion strayed. It was not to be a day for kickers. 

Burnage dug deep and pressed into the Vale 22. Their equaliser was a copy of the Vale's earlier try.

It was clear that the day was to be a forwards' battle. High kicks were coming down no further forward than they had begun.

The Vale had the wind advantage in the first half, and they made the most of it. Harry Fellows made a break from thirty metres out on the right flank. His well-timed pass inside to the speedy Campbell Murrell brought a second try. 

Changes were made to the Vale lineup as replacements: Josh Sutcliffe, Ben Keenan and Eddie Abdelghafar brought their energy into the campaign. The third try came from a penalty/lineout/maul move with Powers and Fellows combining to great effect. The half-time whistle came at 19 points to 7 in the Vale's favour. 

The half-time pep talks took place indoors. The wind and rain showed no weakness, and neither did the faces of the players.

Facing into the relentless wind, the Vale endured the challenges absorbed by Burnage in the first half. The home side struck within two minutes, narrowing the gap to a single score. Hooker Andy Powers sustained a shiner worthy of a Rocky movie, and he reluctantly came off for an icepack. 

The Burnage stand-off made a break up the spine of the pitch, hurling out a pass to his left winger for a try to level the scores. The conversion went awry and the closing minutes of the game were an all out battle for a winning score of any sort. The last surge of the game was a series of Vale rucks in the Burnage 5m area. Phase after phase was stopped, presented and driven again. Could there be a win in there at the end?

Despite impaired visibility, the referee saw that the ball had finally been grounded, and he raised his hand to award the Vale their fourth try to seal the points. Along with the travelling support, the Vale players let out a cheer of triumph and relief, but the story had one final twist to come.

Burnage protested to the referee that the ball had been placed short of the try-line. The referee sought the views of the Vale captain, Jack Ayrton. He could have argued that the grounding of the ball was valid, but the Vale are, above all, honest. Ayrton acknowledged that it was not a try.

A win without integrity is no win at all. The final move allowed Briggs to kick for glory. Into the fiercely high wind, the ball struck the post and fell away. 

It was a dramatic and bewildering conclusion to an excellent game in a harsh environment. The draw affords each side two points in NW2. Man of the Match was Harry Fellows, whose lineout possession in such conditions was exemplary. Next week, the Vale welcomes high flying Bowdon to Powder House Lane. Kick off at 2.15pm.

Team:    A. Fowler, A. Powers, M. Mount, G. Oyston, H. Fellows, M. Goodman, H. J. Ayrton (c), S. Wallbank, J. Batty, J. Silverwood, D. Leighton, C. Murrell, C. Ramwell, J. Fern,  A. Briggs.    Reps.  J. Sutcliffe, B. Keenen, E. Abdelghafar.