That Friday Feeling – 6th October 2023

There were a lot of tired and sore bodies after last weekend’s gritty and resolute performance against a strong Sale Shark’s with the visitors eventually scoring their bonus point try with the last play of the game. To run out winners 7-24.

A well written article by Sale Shark’s blogger ‘Old Dog’ gave an accurate view of the game at Paton Field from the Shark’s perspective and was complimentary about Caldy’s ground and facilities and gave plaudits to the efficient entry and exit arrangements……..(possibly a touch better than at the AJ Bell Stadium!)

View from The Wirral: Caldy 7 Sale 24 [PRC]

A snippet from this amusing article summarises the nature of the contest.

“You have to hand it to the Caldy defence: they stood their ground and held against a relentless battering for the whole match – 144 tackles to 68. Fair play to them, that was a hell of a shift they put in.

After Dugdale aquaplaned over for Sale’s third try, Caldy upped their game even more and, a few minutes later, fly half Lewis Barker popped a neat little kick over Sale’s defensive line. It sat up nicely for centre Connor Wilkinson to run in under the posts and bring the score to a respectable 7–17.”

This weekend there is more of the same as the Ravers head to Newcastle to play Premiership side Newcastle Falcons in an unfamiliar Sunday 2.15 kick off.

Reflecting on the trio of matches against strong Premiership competition Caldy’s Head Coach Matt Cairns was quick to point out both the challenges and the positives.

“There is no doubt that these fixtures are a real challenge for a part time side like Caldy. Like most teams outside the Premiership Caldy’s players and coaches only have a total of 4 to 5 hours a week together on a Tuesday and Thursday evening after a hard day’s work. To compete as effectively as the lads have done in the fixtures against Leicester Tigers and Sale Sharks demonstrates the strides that Caldy have made in the last few years. It has been a boost for the squad’s development that we have been able to expose a lot of Caldy players to the intensity of Premiership Rugby and we will looking to continue this with our squad for Sunday’s game against Newcastle Falcons at Kingston Park. The fixtures in the Premiership Cup have been good preparation for the first Championship league fixture at Paton Field on October 21st against Nottingham”

Matt Cairns has selected the following squad for Saturday’s 1st XV Premiership Cup fixture against Newcastle Falcons at Kingston Park which kicks off at 2.15 pm.

7. D. Jones 8. JJ Dickinson 9. C Pilgrim 10. R Hayes 11.J Mitchell 12. R Williams 13. M. Cartmill

14. W Robinson 15. M. Kilcourse 16. N. Rushton 17. M Gallagher 18. W Sanderson 19. S. Olyott

20. L Cox 21. J Ainscough 22. B Jones 23 S Rogers

There is no match for the second xv this weekend