That Friday Feeling – 31st March 2023

After last Saturday’s terrific win over London Scottish which confirmed the Ravers’ Championship status for next season this weekend the 1st XV squad face the long trek to Cornwall to take on Cornish Pirates at The Mennaye. The game is being played on Sunday 2nd April, with a 2.30 kick-off with the squad travelling on Saturday and returning to the Wirral in the early hours of Monday morning.

The teams have already met three times this season with Caldy winning the league fixture at Paton Field and Pirates winning both encounters in the Cup. The 8-hour journey to Penzance is less than ideal but Caldy’s Head Coach Matt Cairns recognises this is part of the cost of playing Championship level rugby. “Obviously, as a squad, we are delighted to have confirmed our place in the Championship for next season. Caldy have confounded all the odds, and now the challenge is to finish as high as we can. I am sure the squad will take the coach journey in their stride, particularly the return trip!”

Matt Cairns has selected the following squad for Sunday’s game against Cornish Pirates which kicks off at The Mennaye at 2.30 pm.

1. Aigbokhae 2. Caine 3. Higginson 4. Dickinson 5. Sanders 6. Crowe 7 Davidson 8. Ridgway 9. Murray 10. Hinchcliffe 11. Cartmill 12. Barker 13. Bibby 14. Royle 15. Gourlay 16. Hearn17. Clarke 18. Sanderson 19. Barlow 20. Parry 21. Pilgrim 22. Olyott 23. Hayes

Caldy’s record-breaking 2nd XV are in cup action away against Wirral with a 3 pm kick-off. Andrew Soutar and Christian Jones have selected a young squad which includes 5 senior colts with one, Freddie Arista starting.

For perhaps for the first time this season Caldy’s 2nd xv will probably start as underdogs with the Wirral side likely to be strengthened by a number of 1st xv players following the cancellation of the level 5 side’s cup match against Stoke on Trent.

The Nowirul Cup is a mini-league followed by a semi-final and a final. Caldy are in a mini-league with Wirral and Rossendale. The Caldy youngsters will need as much support as possible at the Memorial Ground if they are to overcome what is likely to be a very strong Wirral side.