UNBEATEN Liverpool St Helens arrived at Powder House Lane unbeaten - and left with their record intact after an exciting encounter.

Vale played with more dash than they showed at Lymm the previous week and opened the scoring with a try from debutant Rob Thorn.

Skipper Neil Bennetts ran in the second try of the half following a well worked move, converted by Andy Garnett.

But the Vale trailed 22-12 at half time and Saints then stepped up another gear to put clear water between themselves and their hosts in the second half.

The half began in dramatic style with replacement prop Big Dave' Halliwell scoring a solo try from 40 metres out, which was converted by Garnett but it only spurred the champions to take a firm grip on the game to inflict the heaviest home defeat on the Vale since February, 2004.

At the time of going to press the Vale are without a fixture on Saturday but return to league rugby on March 17 with a tricky away fixture at Carlisle, without two experienced regulars Ian Bird and John Bleasdale, both sidelined with injuries for the remainder of the season.

Vale: A MILLER; J Bryan, R Thorn, A Garnett, J Curran; N Bennetts (Capt), J Bleasdale (Rep A Bolsover 40); P Jackson (Rep D Halliwell 49), D Schuyler, A Cowey; D Perry, J Knox; L Ford (Rep L Farnworth 57), D Lin, M Fowler.

Bannister Bates Man of the Match: James Knox.

* Vale A' team played with spirit against Preston Grasshoppers thirds but went down 17-13 at Lightfoot Green.

* The B team were 8-5 away winners at Oldham while Vale Vikings were without a fixture. They return to action on Saturday with a visit to Sandbach.

* This weekend the A' team will be at home to Waterloo and the B' team will face Bolton, also at home. Vale Vets make a rare outing when they take on a Barcelona side at Powder House Lane on Saturday, kicking off at noon.