In perfect conditions on the Vale first team pitch the boys showed great team spirit to win against a team that are one of the strongest in the county. We played the usual 3x20 minutes and after the initial exchanges in the middle of the field Vale gradually gained territory out rucking the boys and forcing us backwards, we defended the line well though but a couple of questionable penalties proved our undoing allowing them to cross for the opening score.
Two minutes later we levelled things up when Jude S scooped the ball out from the base of a ruck, went left to CJ who quickly found Rorio who then deftly stepped inside a couple of Vale players to score under the posts, Jude also converted.
Vale turned the ball over several times in the first 20 with effective counter rucking but it was Jude S doing the same to Vale who created the next try. He again found CJ who again found Rorio who held off the Vale fullback whilst sprinting down the line to score in the corner.

Vale have some big lads with pace and one lad in particular gave us issues all morning, he scored the opening try of the second third breaking from half way and holding off both CJ and Leo on the way. Unfortunately at this point Jim turned his ankle on the firm pitch and had to come off, but we didn't let it affect us scoring the next well worked try. From a line out Jack D span the ball out through several hands to Leo who burned down the wing and cut in to score under the posts, CJ converted to give us the lead back.
We had several penalties given against us this morning gifting Vale territory and they scored the next two converted tries in quick succession as we failed to get to grips with powerful Vale running.

The last third started with a rallying cry as the lads determined not to lose showed Vale just what we can do. In a superb 20 minutes of running rugby we suddenly remembered to run into the gaps as Vale suddenly looked very exposed. It started with Rorio clearing the length of the field from a line out, followed by Lightnin' who did the same and superbly stepped the full back to score, it was then Leo's turn with 2 tries, the second of which was a belter. From a scrum the ball went through several pairs of hands and a superb Rev D sent Leo through a gap and straight down the middle to score. Jude Smith's kicking was superb slotting 3 of these and lining the 4th up for KB to cheekily boot the ball over the back of the Vale clubhouse!

We showed a great attitude today, things didn't go our way in the first 2 thirds but we hung on and stayed within reach and by the time the last third came around we clicked and blew Vale away. Jack D and Jude S both did a great job at scrumhalf (Jude's kicking was also topnotch today), CJ, the twins and Lightnin' gave the Vale full back a torrid time every time they made a break, Sean and KB both made some great powerful drives, Riley, Josh and both Sam's also had good games as did most of the team. Joe M was a tackling dynamo up front today and was first in to secure the ball all morning, however, i was as proud of the whole team for the way they came back as i was for Joe's individual efforts!
Comedy moment of the day was CJ running 25 yards with a Vale player sat on his head, i still can't get my head around exactly how this came about???

Well done boys and thanks to Vale for the hospitality, next week Ireland!!!!