Five tries gave Vale of Lune victory in their final pre-season outing.

Vale of Lune ran out 35-7 winners at Rochdale on Saturday in their last pre-season friendly against a team they meet when the Regional 1 North West campaign starts later this month, writes BARRY LEES.

More debutants were given the chance to show their skills as Alfie Heath, Rauri Taylor-Smith and Matty Kaye each made their case for future selection.

Harrison Dodge and Matty Davenport both returned to first-team action in a cautious game where both teams cancelled out each other’s initiatives.

Defences were tested with darting runs from the backs, though the tacklers were able to contain these sorties.

Then, on the stroke of half-time, Rochdale broke the stalemate with a contentious try which emanated from an offside decision on the Vale 10-metre line.

The travelling support protested that, as a ruck had not been formed, the Vale player could not be offside.

However, the referee was adamant and the try stood with the half-time score reading 7-0.

Vale restarted with gusto and purpose as the lively Heath chased down a long, diagonal kick into Rochdale territory.

The subsequent possession and pressure gave Jamie Mayall the ball and space to skip through and score under the posts.

Alex Ryder then made the next break for Ben McGarvey to claim the lead before Vale’s grip on the game remained tight.

A concerted forwards’ effort resulted in a try for Josh Sutcliffe and a similar situation 10 metres out was then finished in style by Luke Procter.

Although Jack Ayrton was on the left wing rather than in his usual place among the Vale pack, he made it pay with a fifth try in the corner.

Mayall landed five conversions from as many attempts to complete the scoring.

A rest week ensues before Vale go back to Rochdale on September 26 for the main event.

Vale of Lune: Stevens, Lashley, Butler, Sutcliffe, Ryder, Walton, Ayrton, Wallbank, McGarvey, Clifton, Briston, Mayall, Dorrington, England, Macfarlane. Replacements: Crompton, Dodge, Heath, Davenport, Taylor-Smith, Procter, Kaye.