Caldy – That Friday Feeling 27th September ’24

Caldy’s first home game of the season is against old adversaries Cambridge. There is never much between the sides and the head coaches of both sides will be looking for an improved performance from round one of the Championship.

During the week Caldy got out the wire brush to remove the extensive rust that was evident right across the first team squad. The litany of individual mistakes directly led to five of Bedford’s tries, leaving the Wirral side just too much to do in a much improved second half performance.

Caldy’s totemic prop Nathan Rushton acknowledged last week’s dip in performance levels “We didn’t do ourselves justice, particularly in the first half where individual mistakes cost us. We don’t need to rip up the play book, there was a significant improvement in the second half, we will sharpen up for Cambridge.”

Cambridge appeared to suffer from the same malaise as Caldy. The Blood and Sand succumbed to a 24-57 home reverse against new boys Chinnor, a result that their head coach Richie Williams publicly denounced as unacceptable given the strength of the Cambridge squad for the 2024/25 season. Williams exhorted his squad to be “much, much better for the trip to Caldy” and it is sure to be a fired up and incredibly determined Cambridge squad that travels the 210 miles to Paton Field.

Caldy and Cambridge who were promoted to the Championship in succeeding seasons, are two of the smallest clubs in the second tier of English rugby. Last season the clubs occupied the bottom two rungs in the league ladder. Despite this being only the second competitive game of the season it could be one of the most pivotal of fixtures. It is sure to be a huge clash against the Blood & Sand !

Caldy need as large and as vociferous a support as Wirral can muster for this opening home Championship match. The gates will be open from midday and match tickets can be bought here – please go to https://caldyrugbyclub.com/buy-tickets-membership/

Caldy’s Head Coach Matt Cairns has selected the following squad for tomorrow’s Championship fixture at Paton Field against Cambridge with a 3 pm kick off.

1. N Rushton
2. O Hearn
3. M Weatherby
4. M Gerrard
5. S Olyott
6. C Ridgway
7. T Woodman
8. JJ Dickinson
9. J Tansey
10.  T Curtis
11.  B Jones
12.  C Wilkinson
13.  M Cartmill
14.  N Royle
15.  M Kilcourse
16.  A Aigbokhae
17.  J Sproston
18.  J Jones
19.  F Stevenson
20.  M Gallagher
21.  O Wynn
22.  L Barker
23.  M Barlow

The 2^nd xv are also at home against Macclesfield with a 3 pm kick off.
2^nd xv Head Coach Andrew Soutar is unavailable for the game as he is competing in the Berlin Marathon and fund raising for Dementia UK.
Sooty is hoping to break the 3-hour mark and raise more then £2,000 for the charity.
His Just Giving page is at – https://www.justgiving.com/page/sootylfc

The 3^rd team are playing away against Oxton Parkonians.

Senior Rugby this Saturday 28th September
The Championship        Caldy  v Cambridge              ko 3pm   
NOWIRUL Premier        Caldy 2 v Macclesfield 2       ko 3pm
NOWIRUL Div 3 West   Oxton Parkonians v Caldy 3  ko 3pm 

Caldy Clubhouse Bar and Kitchen will be open this Saturday from 12.00 noon.
Everyone is welcome so please get yourself down to Paton Field to enjoy community rugby at it’s best !

Membership, Season Tickets & Match Tickets
All digital memberships, season tickets & match tickets are available to buy via our club website –
please go to https://caldyrugbyclub.com/buy-tickets-membership/

Premiership Cup round 1 – Caldy supporters coaches to AJ Bell
On Friday 8th November the 1st XV will take on Sale Sharks in the Prem Cup at the AJ Bell Stadium.
We are organising supporters coaches that will depart the club at approximately 5:45pm, returning to Caldy after the match. We have 50 seater coaches available @ £10 per head.
Please contact Lynn Ridgway – [email protected] ASAP if you wish to buy a seat on the coach.

Community Rugby this Sunday 29th September
Minis
u6s training
u7s – u12s are either home or away v Warrington
Juniors
u13s are training, u14s & u16s are at home v Warrington
u15s are away v Kirby Lonsdale & Kendal
Girls
u14s – u18s will all be training at home
Junior Colts
Away at Lymm v Caldy kick off 12:30pm
Senior Colts
Away at Lymm v Caldy kick off 2:00pm

Good luck to everyone & enjoy your rugby weekend !

RFU Regulation 19 – Discipline – Misconduct 5.12 notice of change of regulation
All members & spectators attending rugby matches should be aware of the following change of regulation for Misconduct this season.
” 19.4.9 A club shall be responsible for ensuring that all reasonable steps have been taken to ensure that its players, coaches, members and spectators conduct themselves appropriately and do not behave in a way that is improper, offensive, abusive, threatening, indecent or insulting or enter the pitch without the authority of the referee.”