Caldy – That Friday Feeling 9th May ’25

The mercury is rising fast and as we approach the middle of May the ground is parched and bone hard, even at Nottingham RFC’s Bay ground which is notoriously flood prone. The Ravers’ squad have obtained the necessary permissions for a day’s absence from their day jobs to travel to Nottingham to take on the Archers in this Friday night Championship fixture.

“Nottingham started the season in great form but in recent weeks have somewhat stumbled” said Caldy’s Head Coach Matt Cairns “However they are a strong side with a very potent attack particularly through their outrageously quick back three. Friday night fixtures pose a different challenge for us and if we are to get anything out of the match we will need to be switched on for the full 80 minutes.”

Over the previous Championship seasons there have been 5 fixtures between the sides with Nottingham winning 3 of them.

The Ravers’ match day squad sees the return of Caldy’s two Barbarians in Connor Wilkinson and Nathan ‘Bushy’ Rushton. Charlie Hyde and Jacob Mitchell who played so well last week against Doncaster Knights retain their places in the match day squad with Charlie starting on the wing and Mitch being ready to provide some zip off the bench.

Cairns acknowledged Caldy’s efforts to build some depth in the squad ahead of next season’s crucially important Championship campaign when relegation will return. “Last week’s performances by Charlie, Mitch and Dylan Carroll against Donny together with the outstanding Cup Final win for the 2^nd xv against a significantly strengthened Sedgley Tigers side shows our progress in developing our depth. There is some real talent coming through. The senior squad of some 50 plus players all train and are coached together. It is exciting to watch the progress being made by young, and some not so young, players. To see young players, some of whom were playing senior colts last season, step up to play Championship rugby is one of the most satisfying aspects for the coaching group.”

If the Ravers can pick up a win on the road tonight it is expected that Caldy President Graham Armitage will invite a couple of former players for a celebratory drink at the clubhouse on the squads’ return from Nottingham. Mick Young and Graham McGaffney will be setting their alarm clocks for 2.30 a.m.

Matt Cairns has selected the following squad for tonight’s Championship fixture at The Bay against Nottingham which kicks off at 7.45 pm.

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

Matt Kilcourse, Charlie Hyde and Jacob Mitchell in action last week for Caldy in the Championship fixture against Doncaster Kinights
Image – Barry Quatermass

Image – Lewis Barker

For all those unable to travel to The Bay, Nottingham this evening the Caldy 1st xv Championship game will be live streamed in the clubhouse on the big screen from 7:45pm.

Caldy clubhouse ‘President’s Bar’ and ‘Main Bar’ will be open from 5.30pm tonight
Caldy Kitchen ‘The Hatch’ will also be open for food from 5.30pm

Caldy clubhouse Bar and Kitchen will also be open tomorrow Saturday from 1.00pm   

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Rugby next weekend :
Caldy 1st xv at Paton Field Saturday 17th May
The Championship
Caldy v Ealing Trailfinders kick off 3.00pm
Tickets are available to buy via our club website : https://caldyrugbyclub.com/buy-tickets-membership/

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Caldy Community Rugby 
Touch Rugby
This week was round 2 of the Women’s Wirral League and it was Caldy Touch’s turn to host.
12 games of Touch played by 8 teams (Caldy Cobras & Caldy Cougars, Parkonians Reds & Blues, Oldershaw Diamonds & Valkyries, Birkenhead Panthers and Hoylake)

Caldy Cougars
Nicola Hughes, Victoria Gilroy, Sarah Hughes, Liz Redding, Mary Campbell, Katy Smith and a guest appearance from Ruby Woods a junior New Zealand’s Te Tai Tokerau Touch u14s (regional) and for Elementz Touch (club).

Cougars put in amazing set of games winning two and drawing one.
Cougars v Diamond won 3 – 1
Cougars v Parkonians Blues won 2 – 0
Cougars v Birkenhead Panthers drew 2 – 2
Try scorers Mary Campbell, Sarah Hughes and 5 from Ruby Woods !

Caldy Cougars 
Image – Andy Sharpes

Caldy Touch Lead, Shaun Thomas, presents Ruby with a commentative club shirt to take back to New Zealand as a thank you for supporting Cougars.
Image – Andy Sharpes

Caldy Cobras
Abbie Milne, Harriet Borstlemann, Emma Wilson, Rachel Jones, Kathryn Hollis, Holly Medcalf, Charl Redfern and Polly Pattinson.

Cobras matched Cougars with a superb performance winning two and drawing one.
Cobras v Hoylake won 2 – 0
Cobras v Parkonians Reds won 2 – 0
Cobras v Birkenhead Panthers drew 1 -1
Try scorers Charl Redfern, Rachel Jones, Harriet Borstlemann, Holly Medcalf and Emma Wilson.

A strong start in the Women’s Wirral League from our ladies Touch teams !

Saturday 10^th May Caldy Touch host the NW Juniors Regional Training in build up to the Touch Junior Nationals 30^th and 31^st August in Nottingham.

Juniors can train and trial over the next few weeks in the following venues:
10 May – Caldy RFC 10:00am – 12:30pm
7 June – Sale RFU 10:00am -12:30pm
6 July – friendlies v Scotland venue TBC
9 August – Chester RFU time TBC
23/24 August – venue TBC

NW Touch are looking to enter all divisions this year boys and girls 12’s, 14’s, 17’s and 19’s so please invite / bring along new players /friends.

If you are interested in attending, please contact David Sharpe on 07306 815177