The halfway mark in this season’s Champ league competition provides a two-week break which may…
A View from JJ’s Bank
| 1st xv result – Doncaster Knights 27 – 28 Caldy |
 Image thanks to Lewis Barker Champ Rugby round 13 – Saturday 3rd January 2026 The Rugby Paper report by Guy Williams Doncaster Knights ….……… 27 pts Tries: Hopkinson 2, J Olowofela 22, Margetts 26, R Olowofela 57 Conversions: Bunting 2, 26 Penalty: Bunting 53 Caldy ….………………………… 28 pts Tries: Ridgway 4, Gallagher 31, Hyde 47, Penalty 80 Conversions: K Wilkinson 4, 31, 47 Caldy won the closest of contests at Castle Park in the last minute when the referee awarded the Merseyside club a penalty try after Doncaster’s pack defending their line infringed, a blunder which meant their opposition earned five points and the Yorkshire team had to be content with only two. Caldy, who were behind for large periods of the second half, were heading for defeat as Doncaster led by 27-21, but foolishly they threw away match winning positions by making costly errors near Caldy’s line when they should have scored a fifth try to ensure a much-needed win. Instead, Caldy counter-attacked deep into the Doncaster 22 as the Knights’ defence, not for the first time, was burst open. The Caldy forwards forced a penalty and from a successful lineout on the Doncaster line put the home defence under severe pressure. The referee, George Selwood, who’d seconds earlier issued a yellow card against Doncaster forward Josh Bainbridge, awarded a penalty try making certain that Caldy would win their sixth Champ game, and with it, a result that delighted DoR Gareth Davies. “The win wasn’t what we expected halfway through the game, but we kept ourselves in touching distance.” he said. “I’m not sure what happened at the end. It was big call by the referee, but we are glad he made it. We’ve been fronting up in the last few weeks. We’ve shown out attacking qualities and we are known for our defence. I thought winger Obi Ene stood out and in the pack second row Rouban Birch had an outstanding match and I was especially pleased with scrum half Dom Hanson.” Earlier, Caldy’s tries were scored by flanker Callum Ridgway, hooker Matt Gallagher, and full-back Charlie Hyde in a highly competitive game which Doncaster led 19-14 at the interval following tries by lock Adam Hopkinson, winger Jordan Olowofela and centre Joe Margetts in an impressive display. However, after winger Ryan Olowofela’s try provided a lead of 27-21, Doncaster had plenty of time to ensure a win; instead, this seventh defeat is beginning to raise the possibility they may not qualify for the top six play-offs. Their failure to take opportunities clearly upset coach Darren Fearn: “We had so many opportunities to see the game off. We had full control and then gave away a second yellow card at the end. It’s so frustrating and at the halfway point in the season, we’ve got a lot to pull out of the bag to get to where we want to be.”   Images by Oval Insights Doncaster : Veainu, R Olowofela, Margetts, Kerr, J Olowofela (McNab 26), Bunting, Dolly (c) (Thomas 40), Davidson, Davies (Chapman 73), Thiede (Mulipola 47), Ehizode, Hopkinson, Tait, Bainbridge, McGuire (Parsons 79) Not used: Hulme, Viliamu, Edwards Caldy : Hyde, Tudor (Brown 70), C Wilkinson, Barlow, Ene, K Wilkinson, Hanson, Weatherby (McEachran 60), Gallagher (c), Rushton, Higginson (Sproston 63), Hodkinson, Birch, Ridgway, Owen (Jones 73), Logan, Akehurst, Rabbette, Hearn.Referee: George Selwood Attendance: 1,567 – Rugby coming up Saturday 10th January – NOWIRUL Premier League Caldy 2nd xv v Lymm 2nd xv kick off 2.00pm at Paton Field Saturday 10th January – NOWIRUL Div 3 West Oxton Parkonians v Caldy Rav3rs kick off 2.00pm at Holme Lane, Oxton CH43 2HU – Champ Rugby coming up at Paton Field Match Tickets are available to buy here : https://caldyrugbyclub.com/buy-tickets-membership/ Hospitality details & bookings please contact Kenzie email : [email protected]  |
Related Posts
