On paper a Vale of Lune victory would have been considered as a bonus, but in the event their first defeat after two successive victories was not as disastrous as it might have appeared.

Vale's rivals in the dogfight to avoid relegation both lost, Northwich at home to Sandbach and Winnington Park at home to Leigh, while Tyldesley did not fulfil their fixture at Broughton Park.

The net result means that everyone remains where they were, but when league rugby returns on February 9, a number of crucial fixtures are to be played.

Vale will be at home to Northwich and Tyldesley host Winnington Park, victories for any of these clubs will be like gold dust, precious points that could lead to eventual safety.

Of course the Vale were disappointed at the result against Chester, but it was not totally unexpected against the in-form leaders, whose goal is to return to North One as quickly as possible after being relegated last season.

There was one word on the lips of Vale's supporters after the game, 'pride', because the Vale had refused to be the whipping boys this time after being thrashed 72-10 at Hare Lane back in October. The Vale not only took the game to Chester but they made the visitors work hard for their victory.

Only one try could be attributed to a Vale blunder and the home side were unlucky not to have posted tries of their own; a 23-point difference hardly reflected the enormous effort put in by the Vale, but Chester were still good value for their 12th league win of the season.

There is a settled look to the Vale side at the moment, some healthy competition for places, and a surging of confidence amongst the players, who are fully aware of the importance of future games.

Unfortunately the Vale picked up a couple of injuries to key players. Scrum-half Owen Hughes suffered a head injury with 11 minutes of the first half remaining causing the Vale to reshuffle their back division.

James Hodder moved off the wing into the number nine slot and immediately began to cause the visitors some headaches.

Stand-off Neale Foster appeared not to have recovered fully from the injury picked up at Tyldesley. He never really got into his stride, but somehow managed to escape the clutches of the opposition. A break from rugby could well help him to make a full recovery in time for the Northwich fixture.

Hughes's replacement Neil Bennetts was playing in his first league game of the season. He appeared to suffer no ill effects, although one tackle that left him rolling on the turf had Collette, the physio, scampering anxiously to his aid, but all was well.

Collectively all the Vale squad rose to the challenge. Hooker Gavin Barton made a massive contribution, a player who responds to the challenge for the number two shirt as he and David Schuyler go head to head. Barton was awarded the Cumbrian Properties Man of the Match bubbly, but it must have been a close run thing between him and Danny Lin, who since his return from injury in October, has been simply quite outstanding.

Chester rolled into Powder House Lane brim full of confidence, not only top of the league but into the quarter-finals of the EDF Energy Intermediate Cup.

As the Vale trotted out onto a pitch that earlier in the week had resembled a boating lake, they passed the Chester players who were still knocking lumps off the tackle bags. The practice served them well because they had to endure a lively opening from the Vale.

They did concede an early penalty but Adam Armstrong had difficult in guiding his kick between the uprights in the swirling wind.

Chester rode out the storm and in the fifth minute they posted their first score. Winger Simon Abiero set off on a crossfield run and put his side on the front foot. Suddenly the Vale were under pressure, their flanks looked exposed and from a crossfield move, Abiero shot behind the posts for a try, converted by stand-off Tom Foden.

It was just the start Chester needed but they were unable to impose themselves, because not only was the Vale's defence more than adequate, but they launched a number of attacks that had the visitors defending. A break from Lin ended with a penalty but again Armstrong was off target.

Both sides were not afraid to move the ball about, the guarded play that had been a feature of the Vale v Tyldesley encounter the previous week had disappeared, making for a highly entertaining game.

Craig Orrick made one of his trademark runs deep into Chester's half, Armstrong pulled off an important one-onone tackle, Barton nonchalantly swept up a dangerous loose ball, and Hodder ankle tapped Abiero as he threatened to add a second try.

In the 26th minute, Chester eventually broke down the Vale's resistance. Full-back Sean Green's straight line run opened up the Vale's defence for his try between the posts, Foden converted.

The Vale made a pig's ear of the restart and while they dithered, Green snapped up the loose ball on halfway and sped away, releasing Foden for an unconverted try.

It had been a disastrous two minutes for the Vale, but they came back strongly, despite having to re jig when Hughes departed. Orrick again proved a handful when he charged for the Chester line, a try looked on the cards but referee was unsighted. There was some consolation because in the build-up Chester had given away a penalty which Armstrong duly kicked.

Barton was here there and everywhere at the beginning of the second half. His surging run down the left spearheaded a Vale attack that resulted in Armstrong kicking another penalty in the 50th minute.

Chester brought on fresh legs, conscious that the Vale were far from finished. Alistair Richards timed a tackle on Abiero to perfection by the corner flag but in the 62nd minute the Vale fell further behind.

Winger Matt Sheen, who had been having a quiet game, suddenly cut loose with the move being finished off by lock, John Piggot, with an unconverted try.

A penalty from Foden four minutes later underlined how serious Chester rated the Vale's capacity to cause an upset as they banked another three points.

They need not have worried too much because in the 68th minute they firmly shut the door on any Vale hopes. Abiero rounded off a thrilling Chester move that had started deep in their own half, Foden converted.

There was still time for the Vale to grab some of the action. Orrick, Armstrong, Andrew Sutcliffe and Andrew Garnett in particular began to find gaps, so much so that a plaintive voice from the stand, Michael Winner style, urged Chester to calm down!

But Chester were far from serene, they had a player sent to the sinbin and were powerless to stop the Vale rumbling up and down their goalline before Barton was driven over for his try.

The Vale now have precious time to lick their wounds, patch up some of their injured and prepare for the Northwich game, but their form since the turn of the year suggests they are not only mentally, but physically conditioned for the challenges that await.

Vale of Lune: A Armstrong; J Hodder, A Garnett, C Orrick, A Richards; N Foster, O Hughes (N Bennetts 29); D Halliwell (A Cowey 63), G Barton, A Sutcliffe; L Farnworth, D Perry (D Schuyler 75); R Mudd, D Lin, M Fowler (capt).

Match Sponsor: Phil Rogerson Ltd.

Matchball Sponsor: George Dickson.

Cumbrian Properties Man of the match: Gavin Barton.