CALDER Vale infuriated their supporters and more probably themselves in a disappointing result in the NPI Cup at Newton last Saturday.

Senior officials at the club could well remember visits to Newton before leagues were introduced that were often ill-tempered and bruising affairs. This game was played in the correct spirit and but for substitutions Newton would have been two men down within 30 minutes losing their hooker and their most promising back to injury.

Newton opened the scoring with a penalty through one of Vale's many indiscretions and after 25 minutes Vale found themselves 6-0 down with another penalty to the home side.

Vale's problems stemmed from their many unforced errors and poor liaison from lineout to scrum half, a tapped back ball on many occasions causing difficulties for Simon Finnan at scrum half who himself had difficulty in controlling the ball.

Vale's most enterprising move in the first half came with Hollas touching down in the left hand corner only for Vale's own linesman to indicate a foot had gone into touch. Despite more pressure on the Newton line, Vale couldn't capitalise on their territorial advantage and a Neil Perigro penalty before half time was Vale's only consolation.

The second half continued in a similar vein and although the Vale's backs were given some useful possession, they were unable to turn this to their advantage and with Vale pressing towards the end of the match to gain the upper hand, this regretfully led to further tries by Newton who in the end ran out winners in a match that Vale should have won.

Greater team work and concentration will be needed if Vale are to defeat Wellasey in their league match this weekend.

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