Match Report – Chester 12 – 53 Caldy

As our resident journalist was away this week, we thought we’d acknowledge an excellent match report from our opponent’s last weekend. All credit goes to Tim Carty of Chester RFC.

Despite much evidence to the contrary, there was time for sober reflection after the game on Saturday. Chester welcomed Caldy, our close neighbours from the Wirral, and currently unbeaten in the League, with high hopes. Chester were on an unbeaten six match run and the return fixture earlier in the season at Paton Field had been won by Caldy with just an eight-point margin.

Come the final whistle however, Chester had been pretty much schooled in all aspects of the game. Caldy were too powerful, too canny and too accurate and in fly-half Lewis Barker had the stand-out player on the field. He was pushed hard for the man of the match award though by an outstanding display from Caldy’s No7 Adam Aigbokhae.

When Chester winger Max Himbury found himself on the end of a pinpoint cross field kick from Mark Dixon after 28 minutes, it reduced Caldy’s lead to 10 points and, with some goal line pressure, home fans hopes were raised. Caldy started match like a train with the aforementioned Aigbokhae scoring after 4 minutes. This was the first of his brace. Centre Gavin Roberts landed the conversion but was unable to follow suit when prolific winger Nick Royle skipped down the left wing to score after 18 minutes.

Any hopes of Chester revival were well and truly managed by the visitors who had a grip on the game they were not going to forgo. Tries came at regular intervals and Chester were hampered by an injury to lock Rik Cottrell.

Caldy led 5-25 at the half with Aigbokhae’s second and two penalties from Roberts as Chester found themselves on the wrong end of referee Tim Allatt’s whistle. In truth, this was down to the pressure being exerted by a dominant Caldy pack. With Barker pulling the strings, further tries came from a second for Nick Royle, two from No8 Josiah Dickenson, and one greeted with groan as ex-Chester utility back, Callum Bennett also crossed the whitewash. Kicking duties were assumed by wing Ben Jones and he landed 3 conversions.

Chester’s endeavour was finally rewarded with flanker Mike Craven scoring in the final minute and Shay Owen landed a difficult conversion.

Seven tries to two probably is a fair reflection in the gulf between these two sides on the day. Many believe they were watching the eventual league champions as Caldy look to make an immediate return to National 1 following the last day heartbreak that led to last season’s relegation.

The Christmas break ensures the squad have some time to consider Saturday’s result. It may be best to accept that sometimes you come up against a better side.

We would like to wish everyone at Caldy and Chester a a very Merry Christmas and all the best in the New Year!