Workington, who were third before kick-off, presented the most serious challenge to the Vale of Lune since their game at Tyldesley at the end of September.

Speculation was high pre kick-off as Vale supporters pondered how the home side would react after two performances that had seen then racking up 93 points without reply.

In the end, there was no need to worry as the Vale expertly cut their cloth to fit the occasion. Currently the Vale have a flexible game plan but essentially, thanks to consistency of selection, they have devised a winning formula.

There were times, in particular during the second half, when the Vale appeared to take their foot off the gas, but by then the game was won.

After such a thunderous start to the league programme, confidence bristles through the side. Complacency is not on the agenda, certainly not after the agony at Eccles; there is a fire raging in the bellies, this was shown against Upper Eden last week and also against Workington.

The combination of iron, honey and gold are vital elements in the Vale's alchemy. Against Fleetwood and Upper Eden, the honey was flowing in abundance, 15 tries were fashioned into gold ingots, while against Workington iron ore was added to the smelter, but even so the Vale's performance still contained plenty of sparkle.

Playing with the strong wind behind them, Workington took the lead after four minutes when centre Mike Hawley kicked a penalty. Vale's response was typical and true to form. Craig Orrick, Neil Bennetts and Marc Aboud threaded together a move that had Workington retreating deep into their half.

Vale's enterprise continued as the ball was moved quickly and accurately crossfield. One of the many delights of their style of play is their ability to vary their attacks, players instinctively know what is going on, the running lines are imaginative and create confusion.

As the ball was moved swiftly crossfield a sublime miss move opened up Workington which allowed Neil Hull to race over for an unconverted try in the seventh minute. Unfortunately, the centre later suffered a recurrence of the muscle injury he sustained against Oldham.

In the 16th minute, the Vale went further ahead with a textbook try from Malcolm Fowler. From a five-metre scrum the number eight picked up at the base saw that neither the visitor's back row or their half-backs presented an obstacle and off he sallied into the wide open spaces and then cut back inside for an unconverted try.

This score was ample reward for the Vale because minutes earlier they had been denied a score when the referee was unsighted and was unsure about David Halliwell's grounding after he was propelled over.
The referee awarded the Vale a scrum and Fowler did the rest.

Even though they were playing into a wind that stretched the ensigns on the flag pole horizontally, the Vale's momentum allowed Workington few opportunities to make maximum use of the elements.

The Vale made positive progress down the right flank, the ball being switched accurately at close quarters before Halliwell broke cover. Not for the first time in his career, he proved unstoppable from close range and he rocketed over for his try which Neale Foster converted, threading the ball over in the 20th minute.

Three minutes later, Hawley lashed over a huge penalty to herald a phase of Workington pressure. It was during this stage of the half that the Vale fell prone to a number of errors and the Workington pack started to snort and snarl. However, the Vale stabilised and ended the half on a high note.

The mood continued in the second half. A scrum was taken against the head; James Hodder popped a dangerous-looking kick into the dead ball area but the Vale had to wait until the 61st minute for another score.

Foster launched a huge up-and-under that plummeted down inside Workington's 22. Full-back Steve Campbell, for the first and only time in the game, spilled the ball. Bennetts was off in hot pursuit, but the skipper was bundled unceremoniously off the ball and referee Dawson had no hesitation in awarding a penalty try, Foster tucking away the conversion.

With Foster using the wind to his advantage, Workington had few opportunities to break out. They did put together some attacks but they were too lateral to cause the Vale any problems and in the 68th minute victory was secured.

Super sub Carl Lamb, on for the injured Hull and given another tour of duty on the wing, got himself on the scoresheet. Orrick, who is proving to be a provider as well as a try-scorer, split the Workington defence; Lamb waited patiently because he knew what was coming his way and then he was off down the left touchline like a family pet heading for cover when the first banger goes off, for an unconverted try.

Owen Hughes danced away in a promising attack that ended with the hard-working Alistair Richards being held up short.

In the closing minutes the Vale went into neutral, Workington searched for a consolation score, but this time the 'Zebras' were corralled, they will be hoping to gallop with a little more freedom when they meet the Vale again on the high veldt at the Ellis Sports Ground on January 10.

Vale of Lune; N Foster; A Richards, N Hull (C Lamb 40), C Orrick, J Hodder; N Bennetts (capt), O Hughes; P Jackson, G Barton, D Halliwell (M Sutcliffe 75); L Acton, D Perry; M Aboud, D Lin (L Farnworth, blood, 57), M Fowler (D Lin 69).

Man of the match: Lee Acton,
Match sponsors: Friends of the Vale of Lune. Matchball sponsor: Border Asset Management.