IT was certainly a game of two halves for courageous Calder Vale who came within a whisker of upsetting the odds.

The under 12s side were apparently dead and buried after a torrid first half where the much fancied and stronger Sedgley Park stormed to a commanding 25-5 and four tries to one lead by the break.

How Vale must have breathed a sigh of relief when that whistle went.

But they showed their mettle after the break and if they play like this for the rest of the season they are certainly going to win more games than they lose. For while Vale were frozen out of the first half by a side that is used to success from the senior ranks downwards, the home side were on fire in the second period and came storming back.

Despite the first half battering, they showed glimpses of what they could do and proved that the early season coaching paid dividends as they produced some crisp passing and direct play.

But they only had Sam Ball's try to show for there first half efforts.

However, Sedgley Park must have thought they were playing a different team after the break as Vale kept up the constant pressure that saw them just miss out on a famous victory.

Ball's direct running after the break continued to cause the Park defence problems but it was his fellow winger Adam Spencer who caused the damage as his two tries reduced the visitors' lead.

With Park enjoying their dominance, they spread the ball along the backs whenever possible and it paid off when centre James Austin crashed through to score.

However with Calder Vale looking for the tries to sneak a victory, they were always prone to the counter attack and Sedgley Park exploited that perfectly as they grabbed two second half tries that won them the game.

But Vale were by no means done and flanker James Austin showed that anything the backs can do the forwards can also do, as he grabbed a try to take his side to within one score of the visitors. There was also impressive performances from Lindsay Cunningham and John Jackson.

Despite defeat, Calder Vale can build on their impressive start to the season having beaten Littleborough in their first game.

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