Miller Homes Leagues Division 1, 23rd February 2008

New Brighton 2nds 36 v 29 Vale of Lune 2nds

Vale travelled to New Brighton with virtually their regular side. John Moller their Skipper was returning after injury. Andy Miller had called off due to groin injury and Scott Warrington moved in to fly-half. New Brighton were facing a Vale side which had won fairly convincingly at Powder House Lane early season. Vale were starting facing a stiff breeze directly down the pitch. They immediately took the game to New Brighton and within the first 3 minutes had scored wide out. The conversion failed. The home side broke through to the Vale line on the re-start and they scored in reply in the 6th minute. We were surely in for a cracking game of Rugby. New Brighton then scored clearly to make the score 12 to 5 to them. The wind was certainly affecting Vales play. Towards the end of the 1st Half New Brigton were creating problems for the referee Bob Cooke of The Liverpool Society and he had no alternative but to yellow a Brighton player. Within a minute he had yellowed another. Vale were pressing when again he yellowed another Brighton player. Vale converted their pressure and the half finished with New Brighton 12 players the score 12 points each. One wag on the line offered " There only 12 to go Ref, actually he had refereed well and indeed was proving fair to both sides. At the start of the second half playing against the wind New Brighton took control scoring a fine breakaway try, and were playing some entertaining open rugby. Once their three players had returned it suggested they might take the game away from Vale. Three more tries produced a score of 39 points to 12 points. Vale after some woeful tackling early in the half began to come back into the game and stated to play some powerful Rugby. The Brighton score was likely to be to wide to breech but with a massive effort they took their score to 29 and were pressing at the end. The game was well refereed by Bob Cooke who allowed a free flowing game and was not afraid to add strict discipline when required. A tunnel was formed for Vale Player Jack Fergusson who now leaves for a term in Afganistan. The best of luck to him from all his Vale compatriots. Fred Swarbrick