n Wilmslow 7

n Vale of Lune 7

WILMSLOW Wolves can go into 2019 buoyed by having ended an 11-match losing run.

As time was running out, a converted Alex Taylor try salvaged a draw in Saturday's battle of the Northern Premier League bottom two.

Both Wilmslow and Vale of Lune are some way behind Kendal and Lymm and it will take a huge change of fortune in the new year to get away from the relegation zone.

Wilmslow coach Rick Jones knows the challenge as well as anyone and continues to accentuate the positives.

"Despite everything there’s a great spirit among the players," he said.

"You can see that in the way they keep battling until the final whistle, never throwing in the towel.

"Right at the end of this game, it was typified by Ben Day’s straight-on tackle of Vale’s Jordan Dorrington, which stopped an almost certain match-winning try.

"If they continue with this attitude then the results will eventually come. I’m sure of it."

Taylor's try, in response to Vale's first-half interception effort from a Bob MacCallum long and flat pass, was a determined effort.

He was ruled to have been held up after a lineout drive but then when Wolves got a drive going in the scrum a few moments later, he scored from its base.

Then, in semi darkness and spitting rain, Bob MacCallum kept his composure to land the match-saving conversion.

Both sides wanted the win though.

Sean Street went close for Wolves with a kick and chase effort after Vale mishandled.

And then Vale turned over a last-gasp Wilmslow lineout and with their backs all lined up on their right and Wilmslow’s all on the other side of the pitch, the door looked wide open until they were denied by Day’s courageous tackle to bring down Dorrington.

It was a game that Wilmslow really should have won.

Their forwards, as they have done all season, delivered plenty of solid possession from the set pieces and ensured that the majority of the game was played in the Vale half of the field.

They just lacked a cutting edge in the face of an eager, well organised and obdurate Vale defence.

Vale had the quicker and more creative back division, which more than once went mighty close to nicking the game, but in the end neither will be totally dissatisfied with two league points each from a bitterly cold, windy and very wet occasion.

That both sides were able to produce so much multi-phase rugby in such conditions was a credit to both sides.

Taylor, Kyle Mellor and Danny Kennedy all stood out for Wolves.