Tomorrow the Halbro NW Leagues conclude with Caldy 2nd xv at the top of the…
A View from JJ’s Bank
| u17s result – Chester 20 – 16 Caldy |
| Halbro NW Junior Colts League A Chester u17s …………..20pts Caldy u17s …….. 16pts Tries: Arista & Sangare Penalties: Arista The winners of the Junior Colts League A 2024/25 came down to the final few plays in last game of the season between these top two teams – it proved a fitting finale in a very competitive, fast moving & high quality game of Colts rugby. Caldy charged out of the blocks & powered their way over Chester’s try line in the first few minutes but were denied by the referee not having seen the ball grounded & a held up decision. Chester fought their way back up the pitch & secured a penalty to go up 3-0. Caldy’s excellent forward play dominated & under pressure Chester gave away two penalties in quick succession, both superbly kicked by Jamie Arista for Caldy to take the lead 3-6. The game became even more fiercely competitive & during the chaos two Caldy players unfortunately sustained head injuries so their limited bench was quickly called into action. Caldy’s defence was superb throughout the first half, tackling as a team & repelling all Chester’s efforts to get the ball over the try line. A number of late tackles & cheap shots off the ball by Chester’s no. 4 unfortunately went unpunished.    Images – Barry Macdonald Chester started the second half brightly & an excellent move through their pacy back line put them in at the corner for the first try of the game, conversion missed, 8-6. Caldy responded finding another gear & quickly scored a try of their own, Jamie Arista dummying Chester to go through, conversion missed, 8-11. Chester speeded up their game, eventually found gaps in Caldy’s defensive line & their impressive no. 1 ran in two tries, one of which was converted, 20-11. With only a few minutes left Caldy piled on the pressure with a series of excellent driving mauls & eventually powered over Chester’s try line but were again denied by the referee not having seen the ball grounded. Caldy were soon back with Mattie Sangare forcing his way over to score Caldy’s second try of the game, missed conversion, 20-16. That was the last play – Chester won the game having hung on to their slender points advantage & with that also came the League A Winners.    Images – Barry Macdonald Caldy Junior Colts League A campaign has been fantastic all round thanks to a huge effort from all the players, all the coaches & all the supporting parents. Several storming victories & three narrow defeats meant they finished 2nd in Halbro NW Junior Colts League A. Congratulations to everyone involved ! Really looking forward to seeing them progress further next season through Senior Colts & beyond.  Image – Barry Macdonald Rugby coming up this weekend : Caldy 1st xv at Paton Field Saturday 22nd March The Championship Caldy 1st xv v Chinnor 1st xv kick off 3.00pm Match tickets are available to buy via our club website – please go to https://caldyrugbyclub.com/buy-tickets-membership/ Caldy 2nd xv at Paton Field Saturday 22nd March Halbro NW Bathtime Premier League Caldy 2nd xv v Preston Grasshoppers 2nd xv earlier kick off 12.30pm – Caldy Cobras at England Touch training Three members of Caldy Cobras attended the first of England Touch’s 2025 /2026 rotation, High Performance training last weekend at Cranford Community College in Hounslow. Shaun Thomas trained with the M45s, and Jezz Ellis training in the M55s. Andy Sharpes is the England M55s Head Coach. This year is the build year for England squads as there are no major competitions such as the Euros or World Cup. However players are working towards the Seniors & Masters Cup competition in Sterling in August. Everyone will then have their eyes on the Europeans and then the World Cup in 2028.  Image – Andy Sharpes Caldy RFC Touch rugby coach, Andy Sharpes, shortlisted for award Report – Heidi Hardman-Welsh, Liverpool Echo Alongside sporting icons, Andy Sharpes from Caldy RFC has been recognised for his contributions to grassroots sports in the North West. The coach, who is a former squad member of the Great Britain Men’s 50s, now serves as head coach of Caldy Cobras Touch Rugby and is the driving force behind the newly formed Wirral Waves, a combined clubs Women’s team that fosters inclusivity and collaboration among local players. He hopes to bring his sport to the forefront following his shortlisting for the Athlete Powering Positive Change award at the upcoming British Diversity Awards in London, among sports icons such as Sir Mo Farah, Marcus Rashford, and Shaunagh Brown. Andy said: “It came completely out of the blue, I did not expect it at all, and being in the finals with Greg Rutherford, Marcus Rashford and others, it’s like wow. It’s a great honour, an absolute honour. I’m just pleased the opportunity can showcase touch rugby at a national level, as well as a regional and local club level. The inclusivity of Touch Rugby is at the foundation of its design, welcoming people from all walks of life to the sport. The grassroots stuff is where the diversity and inclusion starts, you can get people at grassroots level all looking for an opportunity to represent at any level, and I think that’s what the sport lends itself to. It allows teams to be made up of players of all ages, gender, husbands and wives playing on the same side. It’s not uncommon to see mums and sons, dads and daughters, for example, on the same team. Wirral Waves Women’s Touch team is the perfect example of players of all ages, all abilities coming together to learn more about the game. Touch is a unique sport because it gives the opportunity for everyone to play, and with it being a limited contact sport, in the traditional sense it creates pathways for people to keep playing. You could start at 14 and carry on into your 50s or 60s, if you wanted to. It gives the opportunity for players to be recognised and perhaps go for England representation. So, it’s a gateway for players to take their ambitions a little further.” In addition to his coaching roles, Sharpes established the Liverpool City Region Touch League, providing clubs with expanded playing opportunities and focusing on referee development. From new players seeking fitness to retirees looking for community engagement, his commitment to fostering an inclusive and accessible sporting environment continues to resonate within the community.  Touch rugby coach, Andy Sharpes, pictured at Caldy RFC Image – Liverpool Echo – Next Dicky’s Dinner – SOLD OUT Friday 4th April 2025 – Save the date – Saturday 14th June 2025 Caldy Rugby Club – End of Season Ball Details to follow in due course |
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