SKIPPER Kati Tuipulotu made a successful return for New Brighton after two months on the sidelines but his three try performance could not prevent the Blues narrowly losing a close fought and entertaining North One West League encounter.
Poor defending cost the Wirral outfit at least two of the four Vale touch downs.
The first two Tuipulotu tries made it 10-10 with Foster landing a penalty for Vale.
Luke Ford broke free to cross for the visitors on 27 minutes but in added first-half time Loa Topou produced a strong scoring run for the home side with Anthony Birley adding the extras.
A quickly taken tap penalty by lively visiting scrum-half Darren Wilson brought a Sam Wallbank try and Foster conversion but back came Brighton for Tuipulotu to cross and Birley convert to make it 24-22.
But it was Vale who grabbed the initiative with an Andy Sutcliffe try converted by Foster who added a penalty.
Vin Dutton’s injury time try for the Blues closed the gap but there was no time for a re-start.
