2012-01-07 Bateman BMW Conference B Alt. Kersal 2nd XV 36pts v Vale of Lune 2nd XV 17 pts.
Vale at last managed the trip to Altrincham Kersal without mishap. After a coach breakdown early December and the consequent necessity to play a mid-week under lights at Broughton Park it was good to find everything progressed satisfactorily yesterday. Apart from the result!!
Tony Gilmour (Manager) Lee Farnworth ( Assistant) and Kieren Doyle had worked overtime to get a side together for this fixture. Memories of Christmas and the New Year were clearly affecting availabilities. Both sides were rusty, neither having played since early December.
Altrincham had pulled things together better than the Vale and scored soon after the K.O. taking the advantage of a strong wind. Vale were struggling to defend a slick moving threequarter line and whilst equalling the Altrincham forwards up front their threeqarters, with the presence of a speedy athletic winger continued to build the score.
Vale ready for K.O. after a score !!
With a marauding Number 7 and 8 at the back of the scrum Vale's half backs were continually put under pressure, preventing any constructive threequarter movements. The score as it was at half time was not unassailable particularly with the use of the wind, as was thought. Needless to say it dropped. As one of our past exteemed Captains would always say "take every advantage you have always"., mind you you've got to win the toss first.
As it was Vale did came back into the game, and living off some powerful driving mauls, space was being created and use was being made of this. Some accurate tactical kicking from Kieron at no 10 was putting the Altrincham side on the back foot.Could they bridge the gap ??
Referee Daniel Taylo prepares for a scrummage !!
Once the Altrincham side had again scored wide out the gap was clearly unbridgeable, but this Vale side under the direction of Tony Gilmour never give up the cause. It was a massive effort from a side that had been brought together with some difficulties and it was encouraging to see all the lads working their "b...socks" off throughout the game.
Vale's physio Claire was kept busy throughout the game tending to knocks, cuts etc. but she needed this just to keep warm, on what was a cold January day.
Hugh Marsden Vale's number 8 gained the MoM a fitting reward to his tremendous efforts throughout the game.
Vale and Altrincham will be glad to have got this first game played, Altrincham moreso, but both will now be prepared as we move into the second half of the Conference.
Referee Daniel Taylor received a welcome comment from Vale's team manager Tony Gilmour " Had a great game Sir, Thanks"
F.S.
