The side which took to pitch was: Jamie Connolly [nursing his knee after the op], Andrew Hare,Tommy Barff, Allan Milne, Frankie Coulson, John Stabler, Darren Thomas, Mark Cholmondeley, Brett Cullinane, Gez Geritz, Dave Ince, Paul Rudd, Henry Tones, Peter Hodgson and Stu Bennett.

The Thompson brothers arrived late and were on the bench along with young prop Anthony Carr.

The temperature was close to 30 degrees, the strong wind was blowing straight down the biggest pitch in the country, and the lush grass was long. No wonder Dave Ince was looking pensive before the start!

But he, and the rest of the team, stuck to their task in a highly competitive game.Tempers sometimes flared and one of their second rows left the field after the ref told him it would be a good idea.

We started into the wind and had to defend for most of the first half. But Vale rarely looked threatening but did score twice after Thomas and Stabler both managed to drop balls. A third try came when Thomas pulled down player two yards short of the line, but a penalty try was awarded for killing the ball.

On a rare break into their 22 the backs managed to send Frankie Coulson over in the corner and it was 21-5 at half time.

Stabs went for the percentage game in the second half. Paul Rudd had an excellent game in the second row winning lots of line out ball. We gradually got on top with a superb break through the middle by Thomas, followed by a barging run form 15 yards by Stu Bennett, who would not be stopped, and then that last minute break from Hare.

He dropped his shoulder and then went outside his marker, then cut inside two covering players and then beat a fourth in the dead ball area to scamper down to the posts.

It was no more than likes of Dave Ince, Mark Cholmondely, Gez Geritz and the rest of the pack deserved. They were understandably knackered at the end but, as Stabler proudly announced as they headed off for the fleshpots of Lancaster and an overnight stay, ..."hey we're unbeaten!".