Vale of Lune teenagers advance in cup against Garstang

MATCH REPORT: Vale of Lune U15s  54 Garstang U15s 52

The wet weather held off to allow bright sunshine on the vast main pitch at Powder House Lane on Sunday morning as Vale of Lune's young stars took on near neighbours Garstang in the first round of the U15s Lancashire Cup.

It was the visitors who grabbed the early initiative, finding gaps in the Vale defences and driving up the pitch to score.

The Vale sharpened up their tackling and gained possession in the Garstang 22 metre area. Wilson Hardwick picked up the ball from a ruck and cut a path through to equalise. 

Garstang enjoyed a purple patch when everything they tried came off. Three more tries followed and the Vale seemed unable to stem the flow, until Joseph Conroy hit back with a 50 metre dash under the posts.

Garstang added another to extend their lead to 21 points, but the resolve amongst the Vale players remained strong.

Scrum-half Josh Jackson intercepted a pass on the halfway line and sprinted away to score.

As half time loomed, Conroy produced another from close range. At the break, there was only seven in it. 

From the referee's restart, the Vale were hungry for possession. It allowed Conroy to outrun the chasing pack to equalise once more.

Again from the left flank, George Hill supplemented his tally of conversions with a try, and the lead was with the Vale for the first time.

Garstang fought back with similar determination. Their sixth and seventh tries went unconverted, and the lead changed again. Conroy replied with his fourth and the lead swapped again. 

With three minutes remaining and everything to play for, both teams threw all they had at the game. Tensions were raised and swiftly dealt with by Mr Higson.

The lively Jackson saw a chance and took it at great speed to score in the right corner.

Garstang's forwards had the final word with their eighth, but there was one last twist in the tale.

The Garstang player set up the ball, knowing that the clock was almost done and an accurate kick would bring the scores level again. The conversion failed when the wind unseated the ball from its tee, allowing the Vale sprinters to impede the attempt. It was to make the crucial difference to the scores. 

Eight tries apiece, the lead changing three times and limping players soldiering on for their team all made a terrific spectacle of youth rugby.

Men of the match were George Hill for one try and seven conversions, Joseph Conroy for four tries and Wilson Hardwick for his sustained efforts in defence and overall work-rate.

The Vale march into the second round of the U15s Lancashire Cup with raised confidence. That trophy just came a step nearer. 

Team:   Cem Willacy, Callum Winder, Leo Harvey, Noah Catlow, Rory Stewart, Chris Bare, Freddie Jones, Josh Jackson, George Hill, Joseph Conroy, Andrew Woodward, Wilson Hardwick.    Coaches: Dave Walker, Shaun Stewart, Aaron Melville and Josh Mitton.