Match Report – Caldy 26 – Ealing Trailfinders 24

Championship new boys Caldy up against the league leaders who hadn’t previously dropped a point was meant to be a foregone conclusion, but it wasn’t as Ealing’s Director of Rugby Ben Ward acknowledged. “We didn’t underestimate Caldy, we knew they were a strong side, and we were well prepared. Losing Ross Kane to a red card after 20 minutes wasn’t helpful but we coped pretty well and with a 24-7 lead we should have been able to close the game out but fair play to Caldy they came back at us hard. Once they gained the momentum, they had the composure to pick up the bonus point win”

Caldy’s Head Coach Matt Cairns was pleased with both the performance and the win. “We had to re group after a chastening loss against Doncaster and during the week we worked on some specific aspects of our game. I was pleased the squad responded as well as they did. Obviously, we need to back it up with a good performance next week when we have another home game against Richmond

In an even and attritional first half of typical winter rugby it was the visitors’ extra sharpness that produced a brace of tries through hooker Jan Campher and centre Reuben Bird-Tulloch. With fly half Craig Willis slotting the conversions and a penalty Ealing ended the first half leading 17-0.

Early in the second half a trademark interception by Caldy flyer Nick Royle got the Ravers on the scoreboard, but despite being down to 14 men after Kane’s dismissal, Ealing were now producing quality rugby and they quickly restored their 17-point advantage with Campher’s second try. Then the wheels came off!

On the 60-minute mark a barnstorming run by Caldy winger Louis Beer finished off an enterprising move to notch up the first of his three tries and change the course of the game. The vociferous Paton Field ‘Bank’ was rocking and so were the league leaders. As Caldy’s pack piled on the pressure Ealing’s discipline crumbled. Caldy were firmly on top.

Beer backed up the rampant Caldy pack to drive over for his second score. Two yellow cards in as many minutes took Ealing down to 12 and with seconds to spare a composed Caldy exploited the opportunity to give Beer his hat trick and the Ravers a bonus point win over the league leaders.

The scale of Caldy’s achievement quickly went viral with more than 500,000 views of the winning try and the exuberant celebration by Caldy’s minis being clocked up in 24 hours.

However, for Caldy’s Director of Rugby Gareth Davies there is little time for celebration. “This week we have another huge fixture at home against Richmond. Ealing acknowledged the impact of Caldy’s support and I hope the Wirral public will come out in force again to help us against one of our closest league rivals”

The Championship game against Richmond on Saturday 14th January kicks off at 2pm at Paton Field