HAPLESS Vale of Lune crashed to a heavy defeat at high-flying Hull Ionians to remain fixed in North One relegation trouble.

Vale were never at the races at Brantingham Park as they shipped five tries on a day of hell in Hull but more alarmingly, they never managed to force the scoreboard operator into any work for the away side.

It is the second time this season Vale have been nilled', and that could haunt the locals in the final relegation mix.

The game was competitive and Vale were holding their own until Lee Farnworth was sent to the sin-bin for talking to referee Tudor Williams and Daniel Baines then saw yellow for killing the ball.

And while those two were paying for their crimes, Hull went into the lead as Mike Aspin-all darted through a gap for the opening try.

Hull struck again as Aspinall turned provider to send Mark Swift over to give them a 10-0 interval lead - perhaps harsh on Vale after debutant scrum half Matt Jones impressed while Andy Miller twice missed penalties.

The second half saw Ionians start well. And while Vale tried their best to contribute to the game they failed to convert any of their chances.

Hull went further ahead when Mark Jasnikowski booted a penalty before the lead was extended thanks to a penalty try following Andrew Richardson's illegal holding of Mark Swift.

Richardson became the third Vale player to see yellow and the pain became worse when Jasnikowski slotting over the extras.

Aspinall went under the posts with five minutes left before completing his hat trick as the clock was about to run down.

Vale never really got into the game but the margin of defeat was harsh after a committed performance led by Gavin McHugh.

They face a tough test on Saturday when Chester - another side with realistic aims of title hunting - visit Powder House Lane. Kick off is at 2.15pm.

VALE OF LUNE: Blackburn; Bryan, Sorour, Bennetts, Miller (Smith 64); Jones, Richardson; Jackson, Watson, A Sutcliffe; Farnworth, McHugh; Baines, Barton, Darwen (M Sutcliffe 76).