Plucky Vale of Lune go down to defeat against Firwood Waterloo

MATCH REPORT: Vale of Lune 22 Firwood Waterloo 36

A change in the weather can bring a change of fortunes. Such was the hope, during the pre-match showers, as the Vale of Lune played host to NW2 league leaders Firwood Waterloo at Powder House Lane.

Player non-availability was, once again, the cause of lineup change, but the Vale team displayed admirable resolve, seizing the chance to show that they were not to be put off the absence of some key contributors.  

The sunshine burst through, and a battle royal ensued.

Early sorties took place in the visitors' half, but the Merseysiders gained the initiative and headed toward the Vale try-line with purpose.

A try followed and the Vale were spurred into life. A bobbling ball in the Waterloo 22m area was chased by a rampant Vale back line, but it was the 'rock of the front row', Archie Fowler who made the decisive strike for the line.

Chris Ramwell converted, and the lead was theirs.  

Some determined sniping from the base of the rucks gave Waterloo back the lead. Thankfully, the kicker was yet to find his range.

Another Vale attack, using the driving maul technique, gave hooker Harm Dokter the honours, and the lead changed again.

The third Waterloo try brought a shout of doubt from the home crowd, but referee Mr Lacey deemed the placement legal and the try stood.

A penalty fell to the Vale on the Waterloo 22m line. Ramwell set himself to take the kick, but the ball fell off the tee.

With lightning reflex, he snatched up the ball and, despite a charge from the defence, he launched a drop goal with pinpoint accuracy. The half time score was an equitable17-17.

Vale replacements came on, and the team took some time to adapt. Meanwhile, Waterloo needed no such adjustment.

The Vale seemed unable to resit the onslaught. In 10 minutes, they had conceded three more tries and the reason for the gap between them in the league table became evident.

The game was far from over. A yellow card was issued to a Waterloo player for an infringement which saw Vale scrum half Jack Batty nursing an injury on the sidelines. The numerical advantage was exploited by the Vale, and a third try was notched up by winger Campbell Murrell in the right corner.

The closing phase of the game saw some determined passages of play from the Vale. The result was all but decided, but the possibility of bonus league points remained. It was not to be. 

Notable performances came from Daniel Leighton and Ross Pillow, but the Vale's standout player was prop Archie Fowler. His sustained efforts in gaining the hard yards put the Vale on the front foot over and over.

By next Saturday, the Vale need to dust themselves off, reset their focus and cut out that frustrating 10 minutes where the damage was done. The away fixture at newly promoted Widnes is an unknown quantity. If they can play for 80 minutes as they did for 70 of the Waterloo game, Widnes will have their work cut out. 

Team:    A. Fowler, H. Dokter, R. Pillow, A. Powers, M. Mount, J. Chadwick, J. Ayrton (c), M. Goodman, J. Fern, J. Silverwood, A. Bolton, C. Ramwell, D. Leighton, C. Murrell, J. Fern.   Reps: S. Morgan, K. Pickup, T. Bell.

(Pictured: Mark Goodman launches an attack.)