Rugby: Vale of Lune win promotion after play off triumph

MATCH REPORT: Manchester RUFC 13 Vale of Lune 16

Vale of Lune RUFC earned promotion to Regional 1 after a run of nine straight wins which saw the side finish second in the table, and then sweep to glory in the play offs.

Barry Lees reports.

The full range of Manchester weather was on display.

Light drizzle, to moderate rain, to stair-rods.

The final scene of the play-off programme was for a place in a level 5 league next season. Promotion for one and relegation for the other.

The rain made ball-handling tricky for both sides and knock-ons from fumbles were many.

The Vale made fewer positioning errors and Manchester were warned by the referee about the likely consequences of a continuance of that theme.

The scoreboard lay dormant until the 33rd minute when Manchester claimed a penalty kick, soon followed by another.

Vale centre Jamie Mayall stepped up to narrow the lead.

On the stroke of half time, Sam Wallbank was penalised for a high tackle and he was temporarily banished to the sideline.

With the skies appearing to have run out of rain, the conditions improved in the second half.

Coaches Mark Goodman and Scott Armstrong shuffled the pack, bringing Joe Crompton to the second row, Josh Sutcliffe to flanker and Jack Ayrton to number eight.

They combined to press forward into Manchester's 22 metre area.

Mayall chipped through a bobbling ball, ripe for chasing. Eddie Abdelghafar was the sharpest to react. He gathered the unattended ball and fought off defenders to score the first try of the game. 

A Manchester yellow card evened the numbers, at least until Wallbank's return.

Harry Fellows made a strident break up the spine of the pitch. The move ended tantalisingly close to the Manchester try line.

A consolation penalty followed, taking the Vale's lead to seven points.  

Manchester were not going to roll over. Relegation loomed over them and this showed in their output.

Relentlessly pounding the Vale's try line, the equaliser eluded the home side. Twice they were held up over the line by valiant defending. The third restart brought together a melee of players, through which the try was finally claimed. 

As the ball was teed up for the conversion, Vale's second row and crowd favourite Harry Fellows remained prone on the grass. Concern for his welfare became the focus of everyone at Grove Park.

The match, the score and the league became minor issues. An ambulance came onto the pitch and Fellows was taken away to hospital. 

The one-hour hiatus made it difficult for either side to reset themselves for the remaining eight minutes.

The delayed conversion levelled the score at 13 - 13, but the Vale had one more play left in their repertoire.

A Vale penalty 30 metres from the posts brought a hush to the assembly. Mayall stepped up and slotted home the winner.  

An impeccable spell to conclude the scheduled season and play-off campaign, including nine straight wins, a superb coaching team, a talented and hungry group of players who motivate each other and the coordination of Director of Rugby Dan Rainford, has proved to be a winning formula.

Next Saturday sees the delayed Lancashire Cup final to take place at Wigan RUFC, when Vale take on NW2 rivals Widnes RUFC. Kick off at 3pm. 

Team:   A. Fowler, H. Dokter, R. Pillow, H. Fellows, J. Sutcliffe, S. Walton, J. Ayrton (c), S. Wallbank, B. Swarbrick, H. Finan, R. Busby, E. Abdelghafar, J. Mayall, J. Macfarlane, H. Clifton.     Reps:    D. Leighton, M. Bradshaw, A. Bolton J. Crompton.

Pictured: Bradshaw, Fellows, Fowler and Walton (Photo by TJB Media.)