Tomorrow the Halbro NW Leagues conclude with Caldy 2nd xv at the top of the…
A View from JJ’s Bank
| 1st xv result – Caldy 23 – 24 Chinnor 2nd xv result – Caldy 38 – 15 Preston Grasshoppers Senior Colts result – Caldy 45 – 43 Anselmians |
| The Championship, Match report – John Lyon Caldy ……………….23pts Tries: Robinson 33, Bedlow 66 Conversions: Barker 33, 77 Penalties: Barker 10, 39, 54 Chinnor ….……… 24pts Tries: Goss 12, Hughes 57, Passman 75 Conversions: Chamberlin 12, 57, 75 Penalty: Chamberlin 52 A breathless and hugely competitive game, which was a real credit to the Championship, saw Chinnor squeak the win by a single point. Chinnor’s Director of Rugby Nick Easter was delighted by the manner of the win as much as the result. “That was a terrific game of rugby. The lead changed hands several times and I am delighted with both our defensive effort and our resilience to come back and win the game at the death with a well-executed score.” A month without rain had produced a hard, fast pitch and both sides played accordingly. For the first 10 minutes, frantic pace, offloading, and risky passing promised a high scoring game but exemplary defence by both sides kept the scoring to a solitary penalty from the boot of Caldy’s Lewis Barker. A dubious ballooned pass was juggled by Chinnor speedster Kieran Goss before he touched down in the corner. The first of Nathan Chamberlain’s three successful conversions pushed the visitors into a slightly fortuitous 3-7 lead. Despite continuous hectic play by both sides, it was a further 20 minutes before the next score came. But it was a beauty ! After good work by Caldy full back Matt Kilcourse, the ball was switched across the field putting centre Connor Wilkinson into space and his deft offload gave winger Will Robinson a 20-metre sprint to the line. Barker’s conversion and a further penalty right on the stroke of half time gave the home side a slender 13-7 lead at the break. In the first half Caldy had enjoyed an advantage at the break down particularly through the industry and excellence of flanker Tristan Woodman but in the second half the visitors’ enjoyed parity. The penalty count started to swing against the home side. Barker and Chamberlain swapped penalty kicks before a further infringement by Caldy gave Chinnor a promising attacking position. The quickly taken tap penalty produced a try for Chinnor’s Grant Hughes and after another successful conversion by Chamberlain the visitors were ahead 16-17. Caldy ratcheted up the pressure. Some ten minutes encamped in the Chinnor 22 metre area eventually told and Caldy’s replacement centre Joe Bedlow scooted over to give the lead back to the Ravers 23-17, but it did not last. With time running out Chinnor found field position and a delightful inside ball put Morgan Passman in for the winning score. Caldy: Kilcourse, Royle, Wilkinson, Barlow (Bedlow 60) Robinson, Barker, Wynn, Weatherby (Aigbokhae 71), Gallagher (Hearn 52) Sproston, (Higginson 52), Groves (Olyott 60), Stevenson, Ridgway, Woodman, Dickinson (c) Chinnor: Bourton, Hughes, Watson (Smith 67), Passman, Gross, Chamberlin, James-Carter (Pascoe 67), Lines, Moore (Walker 52), Hardwick (Doak 76), Ryan, Shaw, Dugmore, Clementson (North 71), Hall (Rafferty 55) Attendance: 1,157 – NOWIRUL Bathtime Premier League Caldy 2nd xv ………………………….. 38pts Preston Grasshoppers 2nd xv ……15pts Caldy 2nd xv continued their winning run with 20 out of 20 in the league this season & they’re now 25 points clear at the top of the NOWIRUL Bathtime Premier League beyond the reach of their nearest rivals Chester 2nd xv who have 3 games left. In an early kick off Preston Grasshoppers started the game well, put plenty of pressure on Caldy but could’nt break their defensive line. The perfect weather conditions & hard, fast pitch were ideal for Caldy’s counter attacking game & they soon took control with an impressive display of running rugby, powerful driving mauls & excellent kicking. Caldy 2nd xv’s unbeaten run is now 120 games in all competitions !    Images – Barry Macdonald u18s Cheshire Plate Semi Final Caldy Senior Colts ……………………45 Anselmians Senior Colts ………….43 Match report – Mike Clarke We welcomed our friends from Anselmian’s for the final home match for the Caldy senior Colts, most of whom have been on all the pitches on both sides of the road since u6’s. (Injuries to Jacob, Harri & Felix meant we would be 1 player short for the whole match) Our pre-match messages were that we didn’t want this to be our last match as a squad but we also didn’t want to finish our last home match with a boring 6-3 win – the lads delivered. Straight from the kick off Alex carried well before we went wide. Although an offload went to floor we re-gathered and a nasty bounce from a crossfield kick went straight into the hands of Leo who beat 2 defenders to score near the touchline & get us off to a great start. (5-0) Multiple phases from the resulting kick off and some decent early shape forced a couple of penalties and some good field position before a high tackle allowed Anselmians to exit and setup with an attacking lineout. Pressure on their lineout from Andrew & Adam forced a knock-on and a scrum in our 22. We went wide again from our 22 and again Leo found some space on the touchline and score near the posts, converted by Ed. (12-0) We again returned the kick off well but were penalised for holding on, quickly found ourselves defending our line, with Andrew off for a blood injury. After solid initial defence the Anselmians 15 found some space to go around us and score near the posts, conversion added. (12-7) Lots of play in the midfeld and numerous penalties before we edged forwards from a 5m scrum. A strong carry from Natho and some great footwork from Simmo & Ethan looked to have us set to score again but a knock-on and a kick from Anselmians forced us back into our half. A missed touch then under pressure from a counter attack and Anselmians went over under the posts, converted (12-14) to take the lead. From the kick off we found ourselves defending again and our Judo expert Adam halted an attack with a hybrid judo/rugby tackle, appreciated by the lads on the pitch, however not so much by the referee, and a penalty and yellow card put us further behind on the scoresheet and 2 players down for 10 mins. (12-17) Keeping possession well, and with strong carries from Anthony, Natho & Dec, we forced a couple of penalties before a quick tap from Ollie gave Alex the opportunity to draw in 3 defenders and put Leo in for his 1st half hat-trick. Half time 17-17 Kicking off, Ethan again retained possession and offloads in midfield from Anthony, Dec & Natho made ground before a kick from Fin gave Anselmians a defensive lineout 5m out. With Adam back from his yellow card pressure on their lineout resulted in a charge down by Natho, with the ball re-gathered by Ed who went over under the posts, and converted (24-17) Again good work from Ethan from the kick off sets up a ruck before Anthony and Fin combine to put Leo into space. Desperate cover defence halted Leo 5m from the line but Alex supported for an offload and scored near the posts, converting to take the score to increase our lead. (31-17) We continue to make ground out wide but an offload goes to ground and the Anselmins 15 again scores under the posts (31-24) Anselmians now continue to make ground from powerful carries we do not deal with and score again under the posts & convert (31-31) We are under pressure immediately again and a kick is gathered and ran back well breaking through the midfield before scoring and converting and we are now struggling. (31-38) Kirky & Luke are both carrying knocks but defending relentlessly and a good defensive read from Simmo on the touchline forces a turnover allowing Alex to break up the touchline before being stopped 5m out. A couple of tight drives continue the pressure before a loose ball is gathered by Ethan to step through a couple of tackles to go over under the posts, again converted. (38-38) Into the final 10mins, penalties allow us to advance into the 22 before a knock-on gives us an attacking scrum on the 22 just to the right of the posts. With the backs stacked on the left, Ed picks and draws in 2 defenders before pulling the ball back on the inside for Fin to score, again converted. (45-38) We continue to attack but a penalty for being in front of the kicker concedes possession before a kick behind and chase allows Anselmians to again score, near the posts. A successful conversion would end the season and prove to be this squads last game together but it is pushed wide and we hang on. (45-43) Some would say we got away with one, others that it was never in doubt. Overall we played some great Colts rugby and also played some pretty average rugby but credit to the lads to get to another final.  Caldy Senior Colts squad heading to Cheshire Finals day ! Back Row left-right Felix, Jacob, Simmo, Kirky, Dec, Adam, Tony, Andrew, Natho, Birchy, Mike, Bradders Front row left-right : Harri, Luke, Ethan, Alex, Ed, Leo, Ollie, Fin Image – Mike Clarke Rugby coming up next weekend : Caldy 1st xv at Paton Field Saturday 29th March The Championship Caldy 1st xv v Ampthill 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/ 32nd Caldy Community Rugby Club Junior Festival Sunday 30th March Gates open from 9.00am next Sunday to welcome 24 squads of u14s, u15s & u16s from rugby clubs across Wirral, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Shropshire & North Wales to Paton Field & Calday Grange Grammar School Glasspool playing field. Thanks to our Junior Rugby Festival committee and everyone involved for all your time and effort in the planning and preparations for what will surely be one of the highlights of everyone’s Junior rugby season. – Rugby coming up the following weekend : Caldy 1st xv away Saturday 5th April The Championship Coventry v Caldy Caldy 2nd xv away Saturday 5th April Halbro NW Bathtime Premier League Lymm v Caldy Caldy 3rd xv at Paton Field Saturday 5th April Halbro NW The Bay Travel Div 3 West Caldy Rav3rs v Capenhurst kick off 3.00pm – 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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