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Vale - A review of the season
THE arrival of the dynamic Darren Wilson from Preston Grasshoppers in January marked a significant sea change in the Vale of Lune's fortunes, in particular when compared with the previous four months.
Until the cold snap arrived in mid-December, the Vale had won five of their 14 league games and were paused precariously one place above the drop zone.
When the thaw began in January it coincided with not only Wilson's arrival, but of two Samoans, number eight Lewis Leaumoana and three-quarters, Tin Finau, a prop Liam McLoughlin, plus the return of Neale Foster and the influential prop Andrew Sutcliffe. In addition, emerging players, such as Michael Stevens and Andy Powers, began to put pressure on the incumbents.
Prior to the enforced break, five North One West fixtures had been won out of the 14 played, leaving the Vale in 11th position and only two points above the drop zone.
Gradually, the Vale began to haul themselves clear of the relegation cut off line as Tyldesley began to look favourites to join Aspatria and Blackburn for the drop.
In two months from the beginning of February to the end of March, out of the eight fixtures played, the Vale won six to cement their league status with some invigorating and enthralling performances.
The opening fixture of 2010 on January 23 at Liverpool St Helens, which ended in a 29-21 defeat, came after two scheduled league games were postponed, and marked the debut of Wilson.
After yet another iced off game, Broughton Park, were the next visitors to The Lane to face a new look Vale side that contained their two Samoan recruits. In foggy conditions the Vale reversed an earlier defeat with a 20-15 victory to edge four points away from the trap door.
Coach Graham Murphy had little hesitation in describing the 32-29 victory at New Brighton as a defining chapter of the season, a game where the Vale and their younger players in particular, came of age.
In addition, Wilson set the game alight with his first try for the club, Foster returned after breaking his ankle on August 15 to kick three conversions and a two penalty goals.
Cynics might have thought that the Vale's form was just a flash in the pan, but an 8-5 win against second placed Northwich proved their critics wrong in a game of nail biting intensity.
A massive test awaited them the following week with the visit of league leaders Lymm, and the Cheshire side's tactics worked perfectly as they rattled up their 17th victory of the season, 25-8.
There were no outward signs of any fallout or hangover when the Vale travelled to Sandbach and recorded a 24-7 victory. A dominant pack, a back row that was quicker than quick allied to a back division that was lightingly fast, completely overwhelmed Sandbach.
A doomed Tyldesley side pushed the Vale all the way, eventually losing 24-15.
The Vale scrambled home with a face saving try from Fergus Owens, and included in the Vale's half-time 16-3 was Leaumoana's first try for the club.
Finau scored his first try in a 17-14 Vale victory over Wilmslow Wolves, and after the game former player Jimmy Moore was spotted in deep discussion with a number of Vale players.
Bird at last posted his 100th try at Altrincham Kersal, but in a game influenced by a strong wind, the Vale went down 27-15 after conceding 24 points before the half hour mark.
After the Easter break the Vale put bottom of the table Aspatria to the sword with a 72-12 home victory.
In an 11 try total, Bird and Alistair Richards each ran in hat-tricks, but the two scored by Neil Bennetts provided the perfect finale to a one-club player who was retiring after 15 years.
Leigh were the visitors for the final league home game, having already defeated the Vale twice in the season, in the Lancashire Trophy and league, but in bright sunshine the Vale produced another swirling eight try bonanza to win 52-8.
For the trip to Burnage the Vale were without a number of their regular players and it showed in a 53-21 defeat. Unbelievably, the Vale led 21-20 at half-time, courtesy of three breakaway tries, all converted by James Hodder, who also ran 80 metres for his try to bring his season's points total to 106.
The league season began at Bower Park, Aspatria. Coach Murphy could not have wished for a better start, the Vale winning 25-17 with full-back Adam Birchall claiming a hat-trick.
A home win, 46-18 against Blackburn put the Vale on top of the table, running in eight tries on a well grassed surface at The Lane, but their old enemy Broughton Park, inflicted the first defeat on them, 20-3.
Winger Richards nipped in for a hat-trick in the 26-24 home victory against Burnage as the visitors struggled to impose their formidable forward strength, and only late in the game did they begin to achieve dominance.
Three defeats on the bounce against Leigh, Liverpool St Helens, and Lymm, plunged the Vale into the relegation zone.
An important home victory against New Brighton, 22-19, took the Vale six points away from the clubs scrapping it out in the dungeon, although their relative position in the table remained unchanged.
However, the Vale entered a nightmare world of five straight league defeats including a 22-20 loss at Tyldesley. Confidence began to drain from a young side, the rub of the green deserted them and although spirits remained high there was little respite from the Saturday grind.
A real low was experienced at Wilmslow in 24-0 defeat. The following week, the Vale battled hard at home against Altrincham Kersal, the 19-3 defeat dropping them below the relegation wire.
Pride was restored in the final league game of the season at Blackburn with a 42-7 victory.
James Hodder was the leading points scorer with 106, Adam Birchall scored 93, and both these players ran in nine tries.
In only 11 games, Neale Foster converted 17 and kicked 11 penalties to underline how much his goal kicking skills had been missed.
Alistair Richards was the leading try with 12 and Danny Lin was the most prolific try scorer in the forwards with seven. A total of 82 tries were scored, 41 converted and 29 penalty goals kicked.
But by far the most successful of all the Vale's senior side's was the A team, who topped Miller Homes Division One. They were closely followed by the Senior and Junior Colts, who also finished at the head of their respective leagues.
The Vikings finished a highly commendable fourth in the Division Three North, while in the same league the B team struggled for consistency throughout.
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Weather for Lancaster
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Light snow
Temperature: 1 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 3 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: West
