VALE of Lune Senior Colts travelled to Ashton-on-Mersey with a depleted squad on Sunday due to injuries and unavailabilities but still managed to come away with a well fought win against a powerful and committed home side.
The Colts League Cup con
sists of the top 16 sides from each of the five senior leagues in a knockout-style competition, Vale who finished top of League E now get the chance to prove themselves against teams who having been plying their trade many leagues above them.
New on-field captain Sam Clarkson got his troops pumped up for what was going to be a feisty encounter and the Vale took the game to Ashton in the first five minutes.
After 15 minutes the pressure tolled and Ashton created an overlap and the winger was not being denied this time, diving over in the corner for an unconverted try.
Vale's influential half-back combination of Whyke and Harris linking well again and giving quality clean ball for the backs to run.
It was this combination who created the chance for Newton to wriggle his way over for an unconverted try.
The second half began at the same frantic pace as the first half did and with both teams exchanging periods of sustained pressure.
It was Ashton to get on the score sheet first, due to Vale's increasing indiscipline the home side took advantage of several penalties and opted to run the ball and the forwards bundled over for another unconverted try taking the score to 10-5.
Harris again giving the backs space to run with Fawcett and Sharples linking well in their new centre partnership.
Newton making another busting run into the Ashton 22, sucked players in to the breakdown creating an overlap and when the ball found itself to Whyke out wide the scrum half sprinted away from the covering defenders to go over with Fawcett adding the extras taking the score to 12-10 in Vale's favour.
Five minutes later the Vale defence continued to apply pressure onto the home side and as the Ashton centre went for a looping miss pass Sharples popped up to sprint from inside his own half under the posts for a converted try. 19-10 to Vale and the game was over.
The final five minutes were still frantic as ever with Ashton pressuring the Vale defence but to no avail. As the final whistle blew the first job had been completed by the Senior Colts and they have their name in the hat with the draw for the next round taking place on Monday.
This may not have been the best performance of the season but nothing less than 100% commitment brought the win.
Vale: Newton (1T), Jones, Sharples (1T), Fawcett (2C), Katsande, Harris, Whyke (1T), Clarkson, Hall, Edlin, Hatton, Jeffreys, Aspinall, Martin and Watson. Subs: Adiele and Woodhead.
