Last-minute agony for Vale of Lune as Firwood Waterloo snatch victory

MATCH REPORT: Firwood Waterloo 21 Vale of Lune 20

The harsh elements abated for the third game between these sides this season.

With the Merseysiders, all in green, sitting in second spot in NW2, and the Vale in fourth, but unbeaten since November, it was poised to be a classic. They did not disappoint. 

The whistle sparked urgency in the Vale, pressing into the Waterloo half and denying the home side a touch of the ball.

It took only three minutes for hooker Andy Powers to steer the ship over the try-line to score from a driving maul.

Waterloo struggled to made headway in possession, frequently heading back to thwart Vale attacks. Macfarlane and Batty combined to test the Waterloo defences, and it was again on the left side where the gap was found. Full back Chris Ramwell made the crucial touchdown. 

Waterloo stepped up and began to use what possession they had earned. A string of passes across the width of the field gave winger Owen Davies the overlap in the corner to strike. His namesake Gabriel Davies sprinted through the centre of the pitch, only to be cut down by Ramwell on the 22m line. Half time came with the score at 10-5 in the Vale's favour. 

Personnel changes brought on George Oyston in the front row, Ben Keenan at flanker and Harrison Dodge on the wing. The Vale maintained the lion's share of possession, with Fellows and Abdelghafar making inroads with ball-in-hand.

Forward advantage put the Vale on the Waterloo try-line where referee Mr Ainslie's patience with Waterloo's improper impediments ran out. He awarded a penalty try to the Vale to stretch their lead. 

Waterloo were shaken into action. Another slick passing move, this time from left to right, sent full back Alex Topping over to score. A penalty kick soon after narrowed the score and when Gabriel Davies copied Topping's move to score, there was a single point in it.

With two minutes left on the clock, Vale were awarded a penalty in range of the posts. Ramwell kept his cool and found the target to claim the lead by two points. 

In the dying seconds, Waterloo gained a final penalty lifeline. From 45 yards out, stand-off James Ratcliffe placed the ball and set his focus on the distant posts. All long kick attempts had fallen short for both sides thus far. The clever money was on a miss, but Ratcliffe had different ideas.

The previously vocal crowd fell silent. Up into the grey sky it soared, coming down over the horizontal to claim the narrowest of victories.

As Ratcliffe was hoisted aloft on the shoulders of his teammates, the Vale were stoic and dignified in defeat, a feeling unfamiliar to them in recent weeks. 

Four league points for Waterloo and a bonus point for the Vale for a close score was the eventual allocation.

Player/coach Mark Goodman was the top performer for the Vale, as was Gabriel Davies for Waterloo. Next Saturday sees the third Vale away trip in a row, with a trip to Winnington Park in Cheshire.  

Team:    A. Fowler, A. Powers, M. Mount, H. Fellows, J. Sutcliffe, J. Wallbank, M. Goodman, J. Ayrton (c), J. Batty, J. Silverwood, J. Macfarlane, E. Abdelghafar, A. Briggs, D. Leighton, C. Ramwell.     Reps: G. Oyston, B. Keenan, H. Dodge.