A large amount of water has flowed under the Vale of Lune's bridge since referee Craig Barclay blew the final whistle at Sandbach in April to ring down the curtain and end what had been a disappointing season for the visitors.

But the Vale have not spent the intervening months by tossing Pooh Sticks aimlessly over the parapet, or indulged in navel gazing, they have set about righting the wrongs with a vengeance.

A rigorous training programme has been adhered to, not quite a 'boot camp', but something similar, as a number of players will testify.

News filtering out of Powder House Lane has been positive and upbeat, so the fixture against Blackburn, coincidentally a club that had taken Vale's spot in North Two West after finishing top of North Lancashire/ Cumbria, would provide a decent yardstick for how things had gone in the close season and areas that would need to be worked on ahead of the opening league game at Heaton Moor on September 13.

Certainly the manner of the Vale's victory more than hinted at the potential of the squad, who straight from the whistle were hungry for the ball and a slice of the action.

Overall the game was played at pace by the Vale, and only in the final quarter did they drop down to a canter. In addition, Blackburn offered a strong physical challenge, the tackling was uncompromising and at times some passages of play, from both sides, suggested that two points were up for grabs.

For the coaching staff it was an ideal test for the squad and even though an all important morale boosting victory was achieved, they had identified areas that still require some fine tuning before the trip to Heaton Moor.

Physically the Vale look in good shape, players were running onto the ball, angles of attack were subtly varied, with players popping up in unexpected positions much to the consternation of the visitors.

There is a Lego-like system of interchangeability within the squad. Lock forwards look at home in the back row and vice versa, while Gavin Barton, nominally a hooker, ranges far and wide and has an unquenchable appetite for the game.

In the three-quarters, positions were changed with kaleidoscopic rapidity. James Hodder switched seamlessly from scrum half to wing, Neil Bennetts slipped from stand-off to centre, and Ian Bird found himself back on his old stomping ground on the wing as the selectors looked at novel three-quarter formations.

In addition to the more experienced players, the selectors took the opportunity to give some of the younger players important game time.

Tom Carter with his three conversions, Adam Macluskie with his well-taken try, Tom Whitty, all poise and elegance, Andy Muir, a superbly-balanced runner as his try illustrated and the hard-working prop Leon Jackson all enhanced their claims.

The only new recruit on show was full-back Neil Hull. He more than filled the criteria of a number 15; positionally sound, strong in the tackle and an accurate tactical kicker who gives the ball a hefty thump.

In their splendid eye-catching new strip, the Vale made all the early running in a game that was dived into four 20-minute quarters. There was an intensity and sharpness about the Vale's play that had their supporters purring in the sunshine.

It took the Vale a while to break through a determined Blackburn defence but in the 15th minute the first points were posted. The Bird-Craig Orrick combination in the centre created the space for skipper Bennetts to race through for a well-executed try, converted by Hodder.

Ten minutes later, Bird instigated another score with a powerful break to open up the way for a Neale Foster try, the stand-off showing no effects from his holiday flight which had landed in the early hours of the morning.

With the Vale running smoothly, Muir embarked a dazzling solo run, backing himself all the way for a confident try converted by Carter. On the half hour, Blackburn's rolling maul brought them a deserved converted try.

With the Vale ringing the changes, they went further ahead in the 44th minute when the hard-working Lee Acton powered his way over from close range to round off an attack that followed a flat out run from Hodder down the left wing, Carter converted.

This score was quickly followed by Macluskie's try after Danny Lin, not for the first time, had raced away with the ball from close quarters, Carter converted to complete the Vale's scoring. Blackburn's perseverance was rewarded with a try late in the game.

There was an understandable euphoria at the victory. Cynics might say there are harder examinations to come and feet have to remain firmly on the ground, but what was made abundantly clear was that the Vale of Lune are up for the challenges that await them.

There will another fixture to measure progress over at Widnes on September 6, before the league curtain raiser at Heaton Moor the following week.

Vale of Lune squad: N Hull; J Bryan, I Bird, C Orrick, A Macluskie; N Bennetts (capt), J Hodder; P Jackson, P Watson, A Cowey; L Acton, D Perry; C Lamb, D Lin, M Fowler. A Bolsover, T Carter, T Whitty, N Foster, A Macluskie, A Muir, A Sutcliffe, L Jackson, L Farnworth.