That Friday Feeling – 22nd September ’23

Caldy travel to Bedford tomorrow for their second ever fixture at Goldington Road.

The Blues are one of the most exciting flair sides in the Championship. Playing at an extraordinary tempo, the free running Blues are difficult to beat at any time but almost impossible to overcome on their home turf as Caldy found out on their first visit last October.

The match was played on Bedford’s ‘Ladies Day’ which Caldy’s travelling support fully embraced with Caldy President and travel co-ordinator Graham Armitage hiring a pink coach and ensuring the official party all wore the pinkest of pink shirts. However on the pitch Caldy were not in the pink.

The Blues scorched into a 30-5 lead by the interval, crossing six times to rack up the bonus point by half time. However, Caldy made a far better fist of it in the second half out scoring the Blues by four tries to two but ending up losing by 52-29.

The benefit of a four try bonus point taken together with the excellent hospitality provided by Bedford marked the away trip to Bedford as one of the best of the season,

After last week’s close fought home win against Ampthill, Caldy will hope they can again reproduce some of the form that saw them beat the Blues by 36-28 at home in the return fixture last season.

Matt Cairns has selected the following squad for Saturday’s 1st XV fixture against Bedford Blues at Goldington Road which kicks off at 3 pm.

7. C Ridgway 8. JJ Dickinson 9. J Murray 10. L Barker 11.L Beer 12. R Williams 13. C Wilkinson

14. W Robinson 15. R Hayes 16. R Higginson 17. M Gallagher 18. J Ellams 19. M Gerrard 20. L Cox

21. J Mitchell 22. M Cartmill 23 M. Barlow

Caldy’s 2nd XV are also scheduled to be in action this Saturday away against Fylde in the Cotton Traders Premier League. Caldy’s last 2 second XV fixtures were hit by late concessions by their opponents. It is to be hoped that a strong Fylde side can provide a stiff workout for Caldy. The 2nd XV match is scheduled to kick off at 3 pm at the Woodlands.