Caldy – That Friday Feeling 8th November ’24

Last weekend in the first round of the Premiership Cup the Ravers were on the wrong side of a 12 -33 loss against a full-strength Newcastle Falcons side who were on their first ever visit to Paton Field. Tonight, Caldy takes on Sale Sharks at the AJ Bell Stadium in the second round of the Premiership Cup and Caldy’s Head Coach Matt Cairns knows how unbelievably special this all is.

“We really must pinch ourselves. For such a ridiculously small club like Caldy to be competing well against Premiership clubs is the stuff of dreams. No one could have envisaged this 5 or 10 years ago. Playing under lights at the AJ Bell stadium on a Friday night against a top Premiership side is just about as good as it gets. We just have to enjoy it.”

The staggering scale of Caldy’s achievement was vividly illustrated in a recent article in the Times Newspaper where the forty-nine clubs in the top two divisions in England and France were ranked according to the size of their ‘stadiums’ compared to the population of their city/town or in Caldy’s case the village.

Every club in the top two divisions in English and French Rugby Union and how the size of its stadium compares to the size of the village/town/city.
Sunday Times and the Times

Injuries and rotation have resulted in a few changes for tonight’s clash with young standoff 19-year-old Dan Rabbette starting at 10 after previous fine showings against Ampthill and last week against Newcastle Falcons. Dan is partnered at half back with the irrepressible Joe Murray. In the second row Martin Gerrard comes in for Tom Sanders and on the wing the ever-young Nick Royle replaces Louis Beer.

First team captain JJ Dickinson is equally upbeat about tonight’s contest “This is why we play sport to test ourselves against the best. I have been at Caldy for all my rugby career playing mini, junior and senior rugby. To play with my brother Sam and all my mates against Sale Sharks under lights on a Friday night is going to be epic……..I am looking forward to it immensely.”

Matt Cairns has selected the following squad for tonight’s Premiership Cup fixture against Sale Sharks which kicks off at the AJ Bell at 7.45 pm.

1. A Aigbokhae
2. O Hearn
3. N Rushton
4. M Gerrard
5. S Dickinson
6. S Olyott
7. C Ridgway
8. JJ Dickinson
9. J Murray
10.  D Rabbette
11.  N Royle
12.  M Barlow
13.  C Wilkinson
14.  M Cartmill
15.  M Kilcourse
16.  M Gallagher
17.  M Weatherby
18.  J Sproston
19.  T Parry
20.  R Higginson
21.  O Wynn
22.  B Jones
23.  J Mitchell

Reminder for those travelling on our Ravers coaches arranged by Lynn Ridgway – please meet 5:30pm at the clubhouse. Ravers coaches will depart at 5:45pm prompt.  
For those not travelling the clubhouse Bar & Kitchen will be open tonight from 7.00pm.

Tomorrow there are two more top of the league clashes. The 2^nd xv takes on Fylde Hawks at Paton Field with a 2.00pm kick off and the 3^rd xv takes on Ellesmere Port 1^st xv away at the Whitby Sports & Social Club with a 2.15pm kick off.

Caldy 2nd xv at Paton Field tomorrow Saturday 9th November
Caldy v Fylde Hawks kick off 2.00pm  
The top two in the NOWIRUL Bathtime Premier League will battle it out tomorrow at Paton Field with Caldy looking to continue their incredible unbeaten run & claim top spot. Everyone is welcome so please get yourself down to Paton Field tomorrow afternoon to support the lads & enjoy community rugby at it’s best ! 
The clubhouse Bar & Kitchen will be open from 1.00pm tomorrow.

Caldy 3rd xv at Whitby Sports & Social Club tomorrow Saturday 9th November
Ellesmere Port v Caldy Rav3ers kick off 2.15pm
The Rav3rs take on the unbeaten Ellesmere Port who are 7 for 7 in a top of the table clash. The Rav3rs have fielded 59 players so far this season and this weekend’s team sees a number of changes in personnel from the brilliant victory over Wallasey two weeks ago. We are sure that whoever takes the field on behalf of Caldy RFC will leave it all out there on the pitch, as the Rav3rs try to close the gap on top spot.
Rav3rs squad for tomorrow :
1. Harry Wilson 2. Noah Griffith’s 3. Harry Evans 4. Max Hendry 5. Harry Lightfoot 6. Tom Marray 7. Harry White 8. Jack Jones 9. Max Doyle 10. Liam Devaney 11. Connor Windell 12. Tom Shannahan 13. Stuart Wellington 14. Connor Lloyd Jones 15. Dave Jones 16. Tom Hughes 17. Barney Matthews 18. Cary Wellington 19. Felix Clarke 20. Rob Waring

Community Rugby this Sunday 10th November
This Sunday sees Minis and Juniors play Bowdon with odds at Home and evens Away. Please note that Bowdon’s U12s have merged with Altrincham Kersal – match is at AK’s ground.
It’s Cheshire Cup action for the Colts, with Seniors away at Macclesfield and the Juniors at home in a local derby with New Brighton !
Minis
u6s training
u7s, u8s, u9s, u10s, u11s, u12s at home &/or away v Bowdon  
Juniors
u13s, u14s, u15s, u16s at home &/or away v Bowdon, u15s also home v Marple
Girls
u14s, u16s, u18s all at home training
Junior Colts
u17s Cheshire Cup at home v New Brighton kick off 12:30pm    
Senior Colts
u18s Cheshire Cup away at Macclesfield 

Good luck to everyone & enjoy your rugby weekend !

Autumn International Tickets available for Saturday 16th November
We still have 8 tickets available @ £91 + £12 admin fee = £103 each
England v South Africa – Saturday 16th November 2024
Allianz Stadium, Twickenham – Kick off 5:40pm

To buy these tickets please contact Graeme Birch ASAP
Please email – [email protected]Caldy RFC presents “A Night with Rugby Legends” on Friday 22nd November 
Tables & individual tickets still available – all enquiries please contact Mary – details below