Glossop are well beaten on the road

North One West: Vale of Lune 29-10 Glossop

Glossop failed to build on last weeks impressive home win when they made the trip to Lancaster to take on Vale of Lune RFC. 

A team well established at this level, the hosts had struggled in the opening five games of the season, picking up just one win. However, they showed no sign of this poor form as they comprehensively dispatched The Hillmen, who’s two late tries gave the scoreline a little respectability. 

The early exchanges saw Glossop playing into a stiff breeze and struggling to get out of their own half. Vale controlled possession well, and were rewarded with a penalty in the thirteenth minute, which full back Chris Ramwell nudged over to give the hosts a 3-0 lead. 

Just four minutes later the home team extended their lead when a break up the middle saw Ramwell cross for a try next to the posts, which was easily converted. 

When Glossop managed to gain some possession, their ball retention was unusually poor. Unforced errors meant they struggled to gain any fluidity and consequently could not impose themselves on the game. 

Ramwell was able to knock over two further penalties on 21 and 30 to leave The Hillmen trailing 16-0. 

In the final five minutes before half time, Glossop enjoyed their best spell and mounted pressure in the Vale Of Lune ‘22. With a score looking imminent, the half time whistle came at  precisely the wrong time and Vale were relived to turn around with a 16-0 lead. 

With the wind at their backs in the second forty, the visitors were confident they would be able to turn around the 16 point deficit. However, a disastrous opening five minutes to the half would kill off any hope of a comeback. The kick off was misplaced which gifted Vale and an attacking scrum on the half way line and from this they launched an attack down the right flank and then back left where centre Harry Jaques coasted over for an unconverted try. Things went from bad to worse for the Derbyshire outfit just four minutes later, when some sloppy defence allowed home second row Harry Fallows to canter over and give the Lancastrians a 26-0 lead. 

In the final fifteen minutes Glossop finally managed to break down the home defence, with two consolation tries either side of a Vale of Lune Penalty. First to cross was Dave Stanley from a quickly taken penalty, after Glossop had the home scrum creaking, and Max Horsfall crossed wide on the left to bag his fifth try of the season. 

Despite finishing the game well it was very much a case of too little too late on this occasion and Glossop will look for a positive response when Penrith visit Hargate Hill on Saturday.