Vale of Lune show Lancashire Royals their talents

MATCH REPORT: Vale of Lune 1st XV 45 Lancashire Royals 21

The last of a series of special events to mark the 125th anniversary of the founding of the Vale of Lune, this county match at Powder House Lane also celebrated the conclusion of the 2024/25 season, at least for the Vale first team.

They were out in force and in fine spirits to take on the county's finest talents at national levels 5 to 9. The sun came out and the sharp breeze made the best of playing conditions, albeit a tad nippy for the spectators. 

The Lancashire select made the first insurgence, pressing deep into the Vale's back yard. It came to the county No 15 to find the space to open the scoring.

The Vale rose to that challenge by applying their trademark move: a lineout on the Lancs 5m line, followed by an undefendable driving maul.

Front row stalwart Matt Mount topping off a fine season with his try.

Full back Ryan Busby took play to the left wing, kicking over the defence to chase a seemingly lost cause over the try line -  but Busby concedes nothing.

Below, Jack Ayrton on a charge.

He was first to the bobbling ovoid, stretching out a hand to reach the ball and take the honours. 

The Vale were in the driving seat, but not in any way complacent. A passing move on the right, including Busby and Fellows, showed sublime skills to put Jack Batty in for the third Vale try.

Lancs came back in an instant, forcing a handling error and claiming the ball to place it in the left corner.

With only three points in it, a safe margin seemed a big ask, but the Vale's lineout-and-drive method came to their aid, again finished by the buoyant Mount.

A physical disagreement in midfield allowed Vale winger Jack Macfarlane to make the best of the confusion by scoring a swallow dive try in the right corner.

Half time arrived with the scores at 29-14 to the host side. 

Below, Sam Walton at speed.

The squabble at the end of the first half resulted in the restart being a 14-a-side matter for 10 minutes.

Harry Fellows and the Lancs centre were dispatched to the thinking zone, whilst planned substitutions were carried out.

Eddie Abdelghafar showed his class with a cut through the Lancs line and a jog over the last quarter to score.

Below, Eddie Abdelghafar under pressure

Ryan Busby stepped up to convert and a healthy lead was restored. Flanker Sam Walton added another for Busby to convert before Lancs found their mojo in their big forwards.

They pounded the Vale line relentlessly to cross for their No.12 to register their third.

Below, Archie Fowler.

The concluding points were earned by a pinpoint kick from Henry Clifton into the Vale's elongated dead-ball area.

Winger Harrison Dodge was up to the challenge to the delight of the faithful, and Clifton's boot added the garnish. 

A win was nice, but the real benefit of this celebratory match was the relationship between the county and its component teams.

It had been some years since a county game was played at Powder House Lane and the facilities, organisation and standard of rugby of this one are certainly worthy of consideration for future exhibition events.

Team:    A. Fowler, M. Mount, R. Pillow,  Fellows, J. Sutcliffe, S. Walton, K. Pickup, J. Ayrton (c), J. Batty, J. Silverwood, J. Macfarlane, E. Abdelghafar, A. Bolton, R. Busby.     Reps:  B. Keenan, G. Oyston, H. Dokter, J. MacDonald, H. Clifton, H. Dodge, D. Leighton.