Caldy – That Friday Feeling 28th March ’25

With last week’s disappointment of the 23-24 loss against Chinnor still very raw the Ravers have to pick themselves up for tomorrow’s visit of Ampthill RFC. These days with the close and heavy weight support of Saracens, the ‘Mob’ are very much a full-time professional side. Their home 43-32 win last week against Nottingham indicates the form they are in and they are expected to provide one of the stiffest tests of the season for Caldy. Apart from their strong contingent from Saracens, Ampthill have further reinforced their squad with former Munster and Highlanders’ hooker Rhys Marshall and on loan Glasgow Warriors prop Callum Norrie.

Although last week’s loss was tough to take it was a terrific game of rugby. Caldy’s Head Coach Matt Cairns praised the Raver’s all round defensive effort and with a hard dry pitch he acknowledged his side will need the same commitment tomorrow. “Coming up against full time squads is always difficult but especially so on firm pitches. We will be up against it for sure tomorrow and we will need all the support we can get from the Wirral public. It makes a huge difference for the squad. “

One player who is sure to be up for the challenge is Caldy’s hugely popular inside centre Mike Barlow who tomorrow will record his 150^th match for the Ravers. This robust hard tackling centre, who was lost to the game for a couple of seasons after suffering an horrific injury, has been pretty much ever present in Caldy’s rise through National 2, National 1 and into the Championship.

The Raver’s captain JJ Dickinson praised Mike Barlow’s defensive consistency “Mike is a defensive talisman for us and he brings so much to the squad, not only with his defence but also his humility and humour. Of course when your doppelganger is Mr Bean a keen sense of humour is to be expected !”

At the other end of his Raver’s journey is England Under 20’s scrum half Dom Hanson who will make his debut for Caldy tomorrow. With a sunny forecast and a curtain raising 2^nd xv cup match against Lymm starting on the main pitch at 12.30 it promises to be a great day of rugby at Paton Field.

JJ Dickinson in line out action against Chinnor

Scrum time against Chinnor

Tristan Woodman attacks Chinnor 
Images – Barry Quatermass

Matt Cairns has selected the following squad for tomorrow’s Championship fixture at Paton Field, against Ampthill RFC which kicks off at 3.00 pm.

1. N Rushton
2. O Hearn
3. J Sproston
4. A Groves
5. T Sanders
6. C Ridgway
7. T Woodman
8. JJ Dickinson
9. O Wynn
10.  S Rogers
11.  W Robinson
12.  M Barlow
13.  C Wilkinson
14.  N Royle
15.  M Kilcourse
16.  M Gallagher
17. M Weatherby
18.  S Olyott
19.  J Bedlow
20.  R Higginson
21.  D Hanson
22.  F Stevenson
23.  J Mitchell

The gates will be open from noon and tickets for the big game against Ampthill are available to buy via our club website – please go to https://caldyrugbyclub.com/buy-tickets-membership/

Caldy 2^nd xv also at home tomorrow in the Cup Semi-Final
Caldy 2nd v Lymm 2nd – kick off 12.30pm
Squad : 1. M Rabbette 2. J Ellam 3. M Ibbotson 4. P Lewis 5. H Lightfoot
6. J Jones 7. T Parry 8. J Wilson 9. J Tansey 10. C Attis 11. L Wiggins
12. T Elkerton 13. C Hyde 14. D Carroll 15. D Rabette 16. J Chandigere
17. T Williams 18. C Butler 19. E Dale 20. J Pickering

Thank you to our u7s for helping on the gate / parking tomorrow & running the raffle – please look out for the raffle ticket sellers & thanks for your support.  

Everyone is welcome so please get yourself down to Paton Field to enjoy community rugby at it’s best ! 

Caldy 3^rd xv away tomorrow in the Bowl Semi-Final
Winnington Park 2nd xv v Caldy Rav3rs – kick off 3.00pm

Caldy clubhouse Bar will be open from 12.00 noon tomorrow
Outside food available from 1.00pm
Caldy Kitchen open later after serving pre-match lunch in the marquee

Live music – Harry Smethurst – in the marquee !

plus Guinness Women’s Six Nations on TV tomorrow
France v Scotland ko 1.00pm
Wales v England ko 4.45pm

Community Rugby this Sunday 30th March
Hope all the mini’s enjoyed their Mini tour to sunny South Yorkshire – you certainly couldn’t miss them in their hoodies ! Congratulation to our u15s and Senior Colts who both won their respective Cheshire Cup semi-finals. Commiserations to our u16s who lost to AH Lions in their Cheshire Cup Final on their way back from their Yorkshire tour.
This Sunday our attention turns to the 32^nd Caldy Junior Rugby Festival with 24 teams participating from across the North West from u14 to u16 age groups. This means that no other age groups will be at home this Sunday, for either training or matches. Most of the mini’s have away games versus New Brighton, so not too far to travel on Mothers’ Day !
Our u13s are off to the South West to play a couple of games in Bath and watch a Premiership game at the Rec. Finally, good luck to the Junior Colts who are playing Birkenhead Park away in the Cheshire Bowl Semi-Final which kicks off at 12.30.
Minis
u6s no training
u7s – u11s away v New Brighton
u12s away v Broughton park
Juniors
u13s Tour to Bath
u14s, u15s, u16s Junior Festival at home 
Girls
u14s, u16s, u18s no training 
Junior Colts
u17s Cheshire Cup Semi-Final away v Birkenhead Park kick off 12.30pm  
Senior Colts
Rest weekend  

Good luck to everyone & enjoy your rugby weekend !

But please remember “No referees, No games” – disrespect or verbal abuse of rugby match officials is totally unacceptable & has no place in rugby.

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Rugby games on tomorrow :
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/

Caldy 2nd xv at Paton Field Saturday 29th March
NOWIRUL Primo Drinks Cup Semi-Final
Caldy 2nd xv v Lymm 2nd xv kick off 12.30pm

Caldy 3rd xv away Saturday 29th March
NOWIRUL Primo Drinks Bowl Semi-Final
Winnington Park 2nd xv v Caldy Rav3rs kick off 3.00pm

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Congratulations to Caldy u18s Girls fly half, Evie Eyers
Image – Chris Green 

Wish you were here ?

Caldy Touch Rugby on Tour earlier today in the Costa Blanca 
Image – Shaun Thomas

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Save the date
Saturday 14th June 2025
Caldy Rugby Club – End of Season Ball
Details to follow in due course