Vale of Lune A put on joyous team display

MATCH REPORT: Vale of Lune A 45 Anselmians 2nds 24

Saturday was warm and cloudy, as April tends to be.

The Vale's A team took on their rivals for top spot, Anselmians from Birkenhead, knowing that in a Hasbro league so tight, one match could mean the difference between the promotion zone and the danger zone.

Undaunted by such pressures, this closely bonded set had only the team's winning ways in mind.

Returning to the side was their mercurial stand-off Henry Clifton, who, soon after Mr Beveridge's initial whistle, wasted no time in launching a cross-field kick into the path of the marauding Vale backs.

The Anselmians' fullback was under great pressure from Eddie Abdelghafar who robbed him of the ball to score on the left. 

Below, Jarrod MacDonald breaks clear

Anselmians came back strongly with some sharp passing to the left corner to equalise.

The forwards grafted hard but seemed to cancel each other out. It fell to the backs to entertain, which they did with style.

Full back Hayden Mills and centre Dan Leighton out sprinted their opponents with great confidence.

One phase of interaction at breakneck speed took the play from their own 22 into the Anselmians' five metre area.

The subsequent rucks set up scrum half Ollie Wilson-Sherrington to retake the lead.

Below, Tom Prieto charging.

The rampant pair combined again in the build-up for the Vale's third try, which was Wilson-Sherrington's second.

Anselmians maintained their focus and performed a repeat of their first try, again in the left corner.

Abdelghafar cashed in on Leighton's hard yards with his second, before providing a chance for Mills to dash 50 yards unchallenged for his try.

Below, Hayden Mills.

Half time came with the Vale very much in charge with the at 31 points to 10. 

Adjustments were made to the Vale lineup with Sam Walton, George Oyston and Harm Dokter entering the arena.

The Merseysiders came out with purpose, seeming to catch the Vale by surprise. The ball remained in the Vale's half for the first 10 minutes of the second period, and the visitors' efforts were rewarded with a a third try by their right winger.

Anselmians' heavy forwards earned their next try, bringing the score to within seven of the Vale's. Could this be a comeback to break the hearts of the home crowd?  

Sam Walton tore into the defences of those in yellow shirts, setting up Henry Clifton to cross the try-line under the posts. He converted, and the clock ticked by toward the conclusion, but the Vale were not done yet.

Abdelghafar claimed the final flourish as he skipped nimbly infield, like a pebble skimming a lake surface.

George Oyston's boot made the final gesture, and the spoils were allocated at five league points to Vale and one bonus point for Anselmians for scoring four tries. 

Below, Ben Keenan at speed.

It was a fluent, competent and joyous team display, making it hard to identify stand-out performances.

However, the cream of the backs was Henry Clifton, for the forwards it was Tom Prieto and the man-of-the-match was lynchpin, Ollie Wilson-Sherrington.

Team manager Lee Craven-Starkey said: "The lads applied their strategy and showed their quality to get the win."

The Vale A team's next fixture is away at Stockport on the 26th of April. Kick off at 3pm. 

Team:   J. Hesketh, M. Davenport, R. Skelton, T. Prieto, J. MacDonald, J. Sloan-Lewis, B. Keenan, J. Wilson, Ollie Wilson-Sherrington, H. Clifton, K. Bristow, E. Abdelghafar, D. Leighton, J. Mitton, H. Mills.   Reps: S. Walton, G. Oyston, H. Dokter. 

More photos from