Vale coach Owens: Side getting stronger every week

His side slipped to their first defeat of the season against Birkenhead Park on Saturday but Owens is pleased with a start that saw a much-changed Vale win their opening two games.

He said: “There’s been a lot of changes.

“We’re fully amateur for the first time in five or six years and of course (former England coach) Brian Ashton has come in as well.

“It means we’ve asked a lot of the lads but I’m pretty chuffed with what we’ve seen so far.

“We’ve struggled to get everyone in the right place due to work and other things but we’re getting nearer and nearer to our first 15 and should have a really strong side out this Saturday.”

Owens, a fitness intructor at Lancaster University who last season coached the University’s first team, revealed working with Ashton has been a real eye opener.

He said: “It’s been absolutely brilliant for the players.

“He’s got a completely different way of working to anything I’ve ever seen. He’s very keen for players to work things out for themselves, make their own mistakes and then learn from them.

“Of course I’m learning from him too.”