Another Saturday afternoon spent in Silloth but sadly no time for ice cream this weekend. Carlisle started this match one place off the bottom of the table and desperately needing to turn the honest endeavours of the previous few weeks into more than just a losing bonus point.
Carlisle started brightly and within the first few minutes a Vale infringement resulted in a Carlisle lineout 10m out from the Vale try line. A catch and drive was superbly steered by the pack, giving second row Matt Davis the opportunity to score Carlisle’s first try.
Only a few minutes later as another Vale penalty infringement gave Carlisle the opportunity to a scrum 5m out, the pack shunted the Vale side backwards and no 8 James Addyman dived over for the second try with barely 10mins on the clock. Vale were quick to strike back though and within a few minutes spotted a gap in the Carlisle defence to score their first try leaving the scores at 10-5 with barely 15mins on the clock. Both sides continued to test each others defences, and it was Vale who managed to find a way through for a converted try to take a slender lead of 10-12 into the second half.
The second half was pretty even with neither side managing to find the crucial breakthrough, and both sides defending solidly. However just before the hour mark, a penalty to Carlisle was threaded through the uprights by Robbie James to give the home side the slenderest of leads at 13-12. The visitors tried to find some weaknesses in the Carlisle defence, but the home side closed them down. It was Carlisle who finished strongly, with prop Josh Holmes denied a try at the end, after another rolling maul by the Carlisle side tested the Vale defence.
Vale tried to break out but a turnover ball at the ruck was booted out by Davis to end the match and give Carlisle a well-deserved and long-awaited win.
This was a much changed side given the number of current injuries and the players deserved a lot of credit for the way they fronted up and toughed out a well fought for win.
With results going their way, Carlisle are now on equal points with 11th placed Blackburn, and the Warwick road side will be looking to improve on the home draw earlier in the season, when they travel to Altrincham Kersal next weekend.