Match Report – Caldy 26 – London Scottish 19

In a closely fought game it was the home side that came out on top to confirm their Championship status for another season. Caldy’s taciturn Director of Rugby Gareth Davies was upbeat and delighted by the win. “For what is essentially a village rugby club to not only gain promotion to the second level of the English pyramid but secure their status with 4 games to go is an outstanding achievement. The lads did Caldy and the Wirral proud”.

This was a closely fought encounter. London Scottish raced into an early lead with a well worked score by Luke Mehson which Caldy quickly countered through a typical forward drive with hooker Ollie Hearn dotting down and Elliott Gourlay converting. There was little to choose between the sides. London Scottish centre Lennox Anyanwu and Caldy’s giant second row Tom Sanders traded scores with the conversions by Nathan Chamberlin and Elliott Gourlay keeping the contest close. Just before the break London Scottish sneaked ahead with a converted Matas Jurevicius score to leave the game delicately poised 14-19 at the break.

Caldy came out purposefully in the second half and the home side’s greater precision was the difference with scores by centre Dan Bibby and veteran winger Nick Royle pushing the Ravers to a bonus point win which ensures Championship Rugby on the Wirral into 2024.

London Scottish Director of Rugby Brian Redpath acknowledged he home side’s greater accuracy and experience. “We probably had the better of the territory and the possession but when it came down to the final execution we were lacking. Caldy got into our 22 4 times and came away for scores on each occasion. We had seven excursions into the Caldy 22 but only picked up three scores,.that is the difference at this level.

For the nearly two thousand jubilant Caldy supporters present at Paton Field it was a joyous occasion. Former Caldy scrum half Mick Young summed up the mood. “ For Caldy to reach the second tier of English Rugby was an unbelievable achievement, but for a club as small as Caldy to compete as effectively as they have is a hugely proud achievement. Gareth Davies and the coaching team of Matt Cairns, Richard Vasey, Andrew Soutar, Christian Jones and all the playing squad deserve all the plaudits. It has been a tremendous journey and I am delighted that it will continue for at least another season.”