Vale of Lune stretch league lead with win over West Park St Helens

MATCH REPORT: Vale of Lune 29 West Park St Helens 6

When the rain came, it brought the nip of autumn with it.

The Vale came into this game at the top of the NW2 table, but the newly promoted West Park St Helens posed an unknown quantity. 

The Vale came out with the confidence befitting their league position. From the off, Billy Swarbrick and Sam Wallbank led the charge and possession soon turned to points.

A textbook lineout, expertly taken by Fellows triggered a maul which took the Vale pack over the line for Harm Dokter to capitalise.

West Park came back as though offended. They earned a penalty kick 20 metres out and narrowed the gap on the scoreboard.

The increasing rain rate made handling tricky and the difficulty in handling resulted in knock-ons by both sides. 

Normal Vale service returned with another driving maul in the West Park 22, marshalled and finished by Dokter.

West Park replied as before with a penalty kick between the posts, bringing the half time score to 12-6 to the Vale. 

The rain maintained its rate as it poured on the Vale's replacements. Gledhill, Pillow and Oyston came on and the battle lines were redrawn.

The visitors were pinned in their own half without respite.

Wallbank made a decisive break, releasing the Vale backs to attack at pace.

Winger Jack McFarlane collected the ball seven meters from the line with three defenders to take on. Applying brute force, he powered over, taking the hapless guards with him. 

The Vale's fourth venture over the tryline came from Sam Wallbank. By this point of superiority, the Vale could afford to be extravagant. McFarlane cut infield to throw the West Park men off kilter, whilst flicking a pass behind his back to Jamie Mayall, who read it perfectly, to the delight of the hardy souls on the terrace.

Versatile forward Joe Crompton added his name to the try count with a bruising drive through the West Park lines to score to the right of the posts.  

The closing sequence was marred by some frustrations which spilled over to into a communal discussion of a physical nature. Nobody was harmed, but coach Mark Goodman and a West Park player were shown red, seconds before the final whistle was blown. 

Three wins and maximum points maintain the Vale's top spot, but what that statistic fails to show is the evident belief in each other that this Vale team display.

The passion, skills and work-rate of this squad combined to produce another performance to inspire and entertain.

What a terrific time to be a Vale supporter.

A weekend off will follow, then the Vale will defend their place at the top of the NW2 tower away at North Ribblesdale RUFC on the 4th of October. Kick off at 3pm.  

Team:  A. Fowler, H. Dokter, G.Oyston, H. Fellows (c), J. Crompton, M. Goodman, J. S. Wallbank, E. Abdelghafar, B. Swarbrick, H. Finan, D. Hall, J. Mayall, A.Bolton, J. McFarlane, C. Ramwell.      Reps:  R. Pillow, K. Gledhill, G. Oyston.