Led by Fish, with Young, Rawlinson, Freear, Hill, Ashton-Hill and Moorby contesting every maul and ruck, the forwards allowed the backs freedom to display their handling skills.

Waterton, at scrum-half, supplied good ball to Crewdson, Irving, Squirrell, Melville, Borland and Waite and Briggs covered well at full-back.

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Tries were scored by Fish (2) and one each to Melville, Crewdson and Moorby.

Vale U12 5 Kenilworth 0

In a much more even contest Kenilworth proved themselves worthy opponents.

There was another outstanding performance from the powerful Fish who notched the only score of the game, ably supported by his fellow forwards.

The half-back combination of Squirrell and Briggs produced some good individual runs but the balance of the three-quarters was restricted by lack of ball.

Irving gave a competent display of handling at full-back.

Vale U12 15 Fleetwood 0

Vale once more dominated up front with Fish adding his fourth try of the day, Melville going in for his second and Alex Briggs recording his first.

This gave Vale six points to qualify for the semi-final.

Warrington 20 Vale U12 0

A disappointing display by Vale after their efforts in the previous three matches, Warrington were much more mobile, taking two tries in the first half before sealing the match in the second half with a further two tries against a Vale side that appeared to have run out of steam.

Vale U12: A Briggs, J Squirrell, A Hill, C Freear, M Rawlinson, C Melville, D Young, S Crewdson, H Borland, T Summers, L Irving, W Waterton, D Shaw, J Moorby, J Ashton-Hill, P Waite, A Fish, B Swarbrick.

Vale U11 10 Sedgley Park 0

Vale U11 5 Waterloo 0

Vale U11 25 Fleetwood 0

Vale U11 20 Burnley 0


Vale U11 0 Widnes 15

The Vale of Lune annual tournament was blessed with good spring weather. It was the Vale who had a spring in their step when they took the field in the group stages.

First up was Sedgley Park and the Vale went about the match in a workman like manner with two tries for the forwards, James Robinson and Aiden Yates.

The set play was fair and the back line had some good running. However, the most noteworthy element was the defence which nilled the opposition.

Next up was Waterloo and this game was ebbing and flowing throughout with only one try scored by J Robinson which decided the match.

Once again the defence held tight and there was some impressive tackling by S Lindeque, M Humpage and J Marriot.

There was some decisive breaks by M Dugdale, E Robertson and J Vaughan Jones.

A total of five tries were scored against Fleetwood and there was a brace scored by M Humpage and another by T Mossop as the back division really got into their stride.

The forwards played their part with some good set play by S Stott, S Jarvis, R Hobbs which in turn resulted in a brace of tries by J Robinson.

The final match in the group stages was against Burnley and a win here would send the Vale into the final. In the end, Vale ran in four tries through M Humpage, S Lindeque, T Mossop and Archie Rich.

The scrummage operated impeccably with both S Jarvis, Douglas Jackson, David Jackson playing crucial roles as the forwards were rotated.

J Wilson Sherrington was lively at the base of the scrum. It should be noted that throughout the group stages Vale did not have a single score against them.

The final was a tense affair which at half-time saw the Vale trailing by a single try.

The forward dominance was broken during this match as Widnes took control of the forward battle. Widnes scored a further two tries and thus won the tournament.

This was by far the best showing by the Vale U11s in a tournament and all players should be proud of their achievements.

Next up is the final games of the season which is a tournament at Preston Grasshoppers.

Finally the Vale team and their coaches won the annual fairplay award, which was presented for the team efforts and the gracious manner in which all games had been played.

The Vale entered two team in the U10's section.

Vale Vipers 5 Aspartia 5

Vale Vipers 0 Liv Coll A 25


Vale Vipers 10 Fleetwood 15

Vale Vipers were unlucky not to win their first game despite dominating for long periods.

The 0-0 draw was followed by a difficult match against Liverpool Collegiate who ran out 25-0 winners and won the group.

The final match was close fought but a 15-10 defeat meant the Vale Vipers failed to qualify for the semi –finals. Two well-worked tries for Gregg Wilson and Matthew Balderstone.

Vale Vipers (tries): M Balderstone(1), D Bennett, J Cookson, J Edwards, R Gillon, M Knowles-Cooke, H Jowett, J Singleton, G Wilson (1).

Vale Vikings 25 Liv Coll B 0

Vale Vikings 35 Southport 0


Vale Vikings 40 W'rington 0

The Vale Vikings played particularly well in all games with excellent tackling, passing of the ball and great running.
They scored 20 tries without conceding to top their group and qualify for the semi-finals.

Vale Vikings 5 Widnes 25

In the semi-final, the Vale played a well-drilled Widnes side, who went onto win the tournament.

Widnes scored first but Vale hit back in the second half and Alisha Kasam-Sharples scored.

The game was balanced until Widnes broke the line and finished with four further tries.

Both of the Vale teams worked hard and played very well. The team work , strong tackling and running was again to the fore and the performances demonstrated the significant progress made over the season.

Vale Vikings (tries): J Baldwin (3), M Bennett, M Bland (1), M Chapman (4), L Clare (2), J Greathead (1), W Hunt (2), A Kasam-Sharples (4), R McVickers, C Squirrell (4).