Vale of Lune maintain play off push after victory at Winnington Park

MATCH REPORT: Winnington Park 14 - 21 Vale of Lune – Regional 2 North West

Vale of Lune kept up their play off push after a win on the road in Regional 2 North West.

Vale were keen to secure at least second place in NW2, and with it, pole position for the forthcoming promotion play-offs, whilst Winnington Park were only two points from league safety.

The Vale of Lune took the initiative and pressed into the Winnington Park twenty-two metre area. Amidst the melee, prop Ross Pillow collected the ball and thumped his way forward to set up a ruck thirty metres from the line, from which centre Jamie Mayall skipped a path through the static defenders to open the Vale's account. He converted with customary panache.

Mayall set the next chain reaction in progress with a long kick into space, chased down by Dan Leighton to force the defending WP winger into touch. From the five-metre lineout, Harry Fellows claimed the ball, and soon hooker Harm Dokter touched down for his fourteenth try of the season.

Mid-table Winnington Park had much to aim for. They came back with renewed purpose, taking play to the Vale with a series of ground-gaining phases in the Vale twenty-two. Their reward came ten metres in from the right touchline, and the following conversion made a game of it.

Crompton came on for Pillow, and the hailstones came back in force to welcome his arrival. Half time arrived with a poised 7-14 to the visitors.

Round two, and Mike Bradshaw bought his considerable presence to the forward campaign. A Vale lineout in the WP twenty-two triggered a series of rucks near to the try line. Vale's scrum-half Billy Swarbrick spotted the gap, and pounced to extend the Vale's lead.

The hail stones came in heavily like nature's bullets, and the faces of players and spectators involuntarily creased in resistance, but the output from both sides remained undiminished.

News came in that North Ribblesdale had secured the league title, making the Vale's present mission clearer. Fifty-five minutes in, a try-line exchange of physicality between Vale full back Jack McFarlane and WP fullback Will Du Rant, resulted in Mr Everett's red card for McFarlane.

The Vale had to dig deep to counter the resultant numerical disadvantage. With the notable exception of a hard fought try from the left WP winger, the Vale kept the Cheshire threat at bay until the close.

Four league points for the Vale, and one bonus point for WP for finishing within seven of the lead, made up the final allocation. Vale kept second spot, and WP kept the 'wolf from the door.' Vale's stand-out player was the energetic Joe Lashley, whose workrate was exceptional.

A blank week follows, then the final scheduled league match away at Firwood Waterloo takes place on the 11th of April. Kick off at 3pm.

Team: A. Fowler, H. Dokter, R. Pillow, H. Fellows, J. Sutcliffe, J. Lashley, S. Wallbank, J. Ayrton (c), B. Swarbrick, H. Finan, C. Murrell, J. Mayall, S. Walton, D. Leighton, J. McFarlane. Reps: K. Briston, J. Crompton, M. Bradshaw.