A cold yet dry February trip inside the M60 was in store for the Vale of Lune first XV and supporters. Having beaten Eccles earlier in the season and with the confidence of a string of wins in recent weeks, the Vale took to the field as clear favourites, yet the points still had to be earned. Vale No. 8 Sam Wallbank had incurred a hamstring injury midweek, leaving a gap only brother Joe could fill. Eccles were fielding their explosive winger, Gavin Akers-Johnson. The previous fixture showed what he could do if allowed the room.

From Mr Everett's whistle, the Vale set out to claim territory and establish control. This they did most emphatically, and the first points soon arrived. A driving maul try, marshalled and finished by hooker Andy Powers, and converted by Damon Hall announced the way the afternoon was going to go. Eccles had other ideas. A rapid, jinking run through midfield by their fleet-footed full-back Marcus Mercer gave him the space in the left corner to strike. A wake-up call for the Vale, perhaps.

The Vale pack applied the pressure as they denied possession to the home side. Two more Powers' tries from mauls ensued and the gap on the scoreboard grew wider. When the ball changed hands, the Vale backs were solid in defence with Chris Ramwell and Jack Macfarlane fully committing to the tackles. A clearance kick by Eccles failed to find touch and came to earth just inside the Vale half. Amid sprinters from both sides closing in, Vale's Damon Hall trapped the ball underfoot, picked it up and hurtled along the right flank, a thrilling fifty-yard burst, burning off all defenders to score in the right corner. Scrum-half Jack Batty was the first to reach a bobbling ball, but it came off his boot awkwardly and the move fell flat. Half time came with the scores at 5 points to 24.

The second half brought a new surge in energy from Eccles. Their beleaguered forward pack got themselves in shape to take the phases up the spine of the pitch. Their reward was a try next to the posts. The vigour continued and the Vale had to defend as they had barely been called upon to do in the first half. A tap tackle by Batty thwarted one promising move and when possession was regained, the centre partnership of Briggs and Bolton put on a show of inter-passing at pace that delighted the pitchside faithful. Bolton placed the ball down to cap off the performance, and Hall added another two points.

Vale's teenaged second row Josh Sutcliffe limped off with a tweak. Harm Dokter came on and soon made his mark with a try in the left corner from their trademark driving maul technique. Hall was accurate once more with the conversion and the clock ticked away to the close. Despite stiff competition from hattrick man Powers and place-kicker Hall, Man-of-the-Match was awarded to Josh Sutcliffe for an all round display of forward expertise.

As all top half teams had won, the Vale's five points do not change the league positions in NW2. Next week sees an away match at Firwood Waterloo, the last team to beat Vale in the Cup back in November. They will be eager to avenge that. This was rescheduled from January due to a frozen pitch. Kick off at 2.15pm.

Team: A. Fowler, A. Powers, M. Mount, H. Fellows, J. Sutcliffe, J. Wallbank, M. Goodman, J. Ayrton (c), J. Batty, J. Silverwood, J. Macfarlane, A. Bolton, A. Briggs, D. Hall, C. Ramwell. Reps: G. Oyston, H. Dokter, D. Leighton.

(Photo by Thomas Bradburn.)