Warrington 24-72 Vale of Lune

Newly crowned champions of North One West, Vale of Lune, recorded their first ever victory at the aptly named '˜Fortress' on Walton Lea Road after their only four previous visits had all ended in defeat.
Damon Hall. Picture: Tony North.Damon Hall. Picture: Tony North.
Damon Hall. Picture: Tony North.

After a mediocre first half by Vale of Lune’s usual high standards, they opened the taps fully in the second half to run in nine tries to add to their first half tally of three.

Leading try scorer, Damon Hall collected a hat-trick of tries plus six conversions to edge ever closer to the first team try scoring record.

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His total now stands at 40 one short of Nick Royle’s record set in the 2013/14 season. In addition he is closing in on the first team point’s record of 429 set by Mike Curran in the 1980/81 season; Hall’s total stands a 399.

With records very much on the agenda there will be a collective determination to pass the 1,000 points for the season. Vale fell behind to an early Warrington try in the ninth minute when Max Caldwell punished some slack Vale pay for a try converted by Ben Hockenhull.

In the 12th minute scrum half Billy Swarbrick completed a swift counter attack, his try being converted by Hall.

At the end of the first quarter No.8 Evan Stewart increased Vale’s lead with a try wide out converted by Hall.

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Two penalty goals from Hockenhull brought Warrington back into contention before lock, Al Crookall, bounded over for Vale in the 32nd minute, Hall again converting.

In the final move of the half Caldwell collected a second try to leave the game evenly poised at the interval.

Hockenhull kicked two penalty goals in the 43rd and 46th minutes to put the Wires in the lead before flanker Jack Sadler edged the Vale back in front with an unconverted try in the 48th minute.

Playing up the slope, Vale threw off the shackles, upped the tempo and began to stretch Warrington’s defence and leave them trailing in Vale’s wake. Hall ran in two unconverted tries in the fifty first and fifty third minutes respectively. Centre Ben Dorrington touched down after prop Ross Pillow was stopped short of the line, hall added the extras in the fifty seventh minute.

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Winger Chris Ramwell danced over wide out for an unconverted try in the sixty eighth minute. Sadler displayed his soccer skills when he expertly controlled the ball for a neatly taken unconverted try with eight minutes remaining.

Hall raced 60m for a solo try which he converted in the 77th minute.

Dorrington rounded off a sizzling second half performance from the Vale with an injury time try converted by Hall with a drop kick.

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