IF Martin Poste was wondering what version of Vale of Lune would stand in his side’s way, he did not wait long for an answer.

The champions had a party planned for Saturday night to celebrate winning the North One West title, but their minds did not wander until full-time.

Theirs was a performance that highlighted why they will be promoted as champions, and it dealt a blow too to Northwich hopes of following them.

Blacks must now beat Rochdale, preferably collecting a bonus-point along the way, in their final fixture at Moss Farm next weekend.

They will start that game, against already-relegated opponents, with a three-point lead over Wilmslow.

However their rivals for a play-off place have two matches left; they visit Carlisle before coincidentally concluding their campaign by hosting Vale on Saturday week.

Northwich trailed on Saturday from the moment they conceded a try inside five minutes.

A handling error gifted to the home team an attacking scrum from which they moved the ball swiftly through their backs division before Fergus Owens darted through a gap in Blacks’ defence.

Nick Baldwin landed a penalty at the other end by way of reply.

The visitors’ best spell of the opening period followed, although they could find no way through a defence that had restricted them to a single score during the return at Moss Farm in February.

Ben Dorrington went over between the posts, and Damon Hall converted, as Vale moved 14-3 in front.

They crossed the whitewash twice more through Olly Jacques, Hall adding extras after the second, before the interval.

Hall went over, followed by Dorrington for his second, inside the opening 10 minutes of the second-half put his side out of reach.

To their credit, Northwich rallied.

Joel Barber notched a try following a simple move following a scrum, converted by Baldwin, before the full-back went over again five minutes later.

Baldwin’s boot remained reliable too.

Perhaps irked, Vale reinforced their superiority with another brace of scores from Jack Ayrton and Sam Wallbank.

However Northwich continued to increase their total, and Barber kicked forward for wing Bud Skinkis to touch down with time running out.

The visitors’ hopes of pinching a bonus-point were dashed though when their hosts concluded a fine afternoon’s work with another converted try from the excellent Hall.

A victory against Rochdale, who they beat on the season’s opening day, will at least make Wilmslow have to win both of their remaining games.

Northwich | Ridgway, Lapniewski, King, Farley, Fray, Balshaw, Heywood, Richard Dale, Poste, Baldwin, Skinkis, Reilly, Underhill, Sam Naylor, Barber Replacements Lindsay, Hulbert, James Tries Barber (2), Skinkis Cons Baldwin (2) Pen Baldwin