VALE OF LUNE 35 Whitchurch 0

VALE of Lune collected more valuable North Two West league points with an exciting action packed victory against Whitchurch to gain revenge for defeat in Shropshire in October.

Playing attractive, pacy rugby, the Vale established a 24-0 lead by half time with tries from Phil Jackson, James Curran -on his 50th first team appearance - Andrew Garnett and the influential John Bleasdale. Andy Miller converted two.

Sandwiched between two second half penalty goals from Miller was a try from replacement Gavin Barton, who was returning from an injury picked up earlier in the season. And for the second time the opposition failed to breach the Vale's line.

Vale return to league action at the end of January when they visit Winnington Park, in the meantime their scheduled Lancashire Trophy semi-final tie for Sunday has been postponed because their eventual opponents, Widnes or Liverpool St Helens, have yet to complete their quarter-final game.

Vale of Lune: A Miller; J Bryan, A Garnett, I Bird, J Curran; N Bennetts, J Bleasdale (M Walker 58); P Jackson, D Schuyler (G Barton 58), D Halliwell (A Cowey 58); M Speight, D Perry; L Ford, D Lin, M Fowler.

* VALE A found Manchester 2, who are second in the Bateman BMW Premier Division, strong opponents as they lost 53-0 on a bad day at Cheadle Hulme.

* VALE Vikings registered an important 10-0 home victory against promotion candidates Leigh 3. But there was bad news at Lighfoot Green Lane as the B team crashed 29-11 to local rivals Preston Grasshoppers.

* With the first team and A team inactive, centre stage belongs to the Vikings on Saturday as they look to avenge their away defeat at the hands of Altrincham Kersal on the first day of the season.

* Vale Ladies travel to Worcester on Sunday.