Vale of Lune achieve highest league placing for seven years despite final day defeat

MATCH REPORT: Northwich 26 Vale of Lune 19

Although suffering defeat at Moss Farm against lowly placed Northwich, the Vale finished in fourth position in Regional 2 Northwest thus attaining their highest final placing since the promotion winning campaign of 2017-8.

Playing against the wind and grateful for the pressure relieving kicks of Alex Briggs, Vale's first first major incursion into the home side's half of a compact pitch was spearheaded by Eddie Abdelghafar and Jack McFarlane.

A resultant lineout went awry but minutes later a scrum on the Northwich 22 saw Sam Wallbank pick up before feeding Chris Ramwell who in turn passed to Eddie Abdelghafar to score in the corner.

Only in the lineouts did the Vale forwards achieve any ascendency over their larger rivals and after pressure on the Vale line prop Archie Fowler was yellow carded for multiple pack indiscretions.

Vale conceded a further scrum penalty near to their line for Northwich to score a blind side try closely by two others, both converted, bringing up a half-time score of 19-5.

Replacements Ross Pillow, Kieron Pickup and Harrison Dodge entered the fray but despite having the wind to their back and some astute kicking keeping Northwich deep in their half the Vale were unable to take full advantage.

Northwich went further ahead with a bonus point try and it was not until midway through the second half that their otherwise resilient defence was breached with the referee awarding the Vale a penalty try for a dropped scrum.

Vale's best play of the match saw scrum half Jack Batty pin his ears back and to the roar of the Vale's travelling faithful run 70 metres for a try with Alex Briggs adding the extras.

The final minutes of the game saw the Vale camped in the home side's 22 but despite their efforts with Sam Wallbank and Harry Fellows to the fore the miserly Northwich defence held firm for a deserved 26-19 victory.

Team: Fowler, Dokter, Oyston, Fellows, Powers, Sutcliffe, Ayrton, S.Wallbank, Batty, Briggs, Ramwell, Abdelghafar, McFarlane, Murrell, Busby.

Reps: Pillow, Pickup, Dodge.

Scorers: Try- Abdelghafar, Batty. Con- Briggs.