There's a saying that "a week is a long time in politics", well it seems that a fortnight is a long time in rugby as Valley, who had beaten the league leaders last time out came second best in every aspect of a meeting with the league's basement club.

The game, which was sponsored by Hathersage's Best You Fitness, was preceded by a minutes silence to mark not only Remembrance Day, but also the recent passing of Nona Holwell, the wife of HVRFC's co-founder, Paul.

Once the game kicked off two things were obvious, Winnington Park's league position defied their intentions and Valley were strangely subdued as the visitor's camped in the home team's 22, testing the defence and the discipline, which finally cracked allowing Park to convert a penalty (0-3).

As both teams battered away at each other, Valley were forced into an early change with Blake Clover replacing veteran hooker Graham Green, however, with their first incursion in the opposition's 22 Valley took the lead as Pat Coupar crashed over for his first try for the Club, a score which was improved by Oliver Tibenham (7-3).

With just 20 minutes gone it was already evident that Valley's forwards were labouring, deprived of their main sources of lineout possession with Oldridge and Watts both absent and with their half back partnership of Rawson and Williams frequently the first players to rucks, it was perhaps no surprise when Park snatched the lead back with a converted try (7-10), extending this lead as time expired with another score (7-15).

Harsh words were needed, changes were needed and Valley used both at half time, but, still struggling to produce any fluent rugby against a determined defence, it took 20 minutes for the next score to arrive as Will Boot crossed for a converted try (14-15). This score should have sparked a Valley revival, but it merely reinvigorated the visitors, who, with Valley unusually looking ragged in defence, quickly scored to re-establish their lead (14-20), a lead that was extended with 66 minutes gone (14-27).

This score finally sparked Valley into action and some excellent handling saw winger Jack Greaves cross for a try to which Oliver Tibenham added a superb conversion and suddenly an unlikely and undeserved win looked a possibility. Valley, aided by a series of penalties, threw everything at the visitor's defence, but all to no avail as the game ended with a wayward pass and scenes of jubilation amongst the Winnington players.

Tries: Coupar, W.Boot, Greaves
Cons: Tibenham (3)

Man of the match: In a strangely subdued performance one player stood out as Valley's very own Duracell bunny, Jae Rodgers, never stopped working in both attack and defence.
Mandy of the match: With time running out cool heads and slick handling was needed as Valley chased the win, however Jack Greaves would have needed a landing net to catch Will Boot's wayward pass.

Valley's stop-start season will stop again next weekend, giving everyone the chance to watch England vs New Zealand, before a visit to Heaton Moor (26 Nov) brings the month to a close.