Caldy – That Friday Feeling 9th January 2026

The halfway mark in this season’s Champ league competition provides a two-week break which may be enough recovery time to enable some of Caldy’s injured players to reappear for the second half of the season.

The National League Rugby Discussion Forum more commonly known as Rolling Maul had an eloquent half season report by poster ‘The Blues’ on the performances so far by all the Champ sides. The Blues scored Caldy an A+ commenting that “Caldy are overachieving and are looking good be top of the bottom, don’t think they will make 6th.”

Caldy’s Director of Rugby Gareth Davies was less generous in his own assessment of the Raver’s first half performance. “Personally, I would mark our performance as a B – or a B, not in terms of effort or attitude but rather in terms of achievement. At the end of a few games, we have squandered 5 or 6 league points which we had within our grasp, through a lack of composure or poor decision making. We need to tidy up this part of our game. Apart from the Ealing game we have been really competitive and with a bit more work and some luck with injuries we hope to kick on in the second half. As a minimum we will be looking to pick up another 4 or more wins and losing or four try bonus points in the rest of our second half fixtures. If we can achieve that or better, we shouldn’t be too far away from the playoffs for the top 6. I know that is Head Coach Matt Cairns’ objective”

With no 1st xv fixture tomorrow, Gareth Davies is looking forward to watching the 2nd xv play at Paton Field against very tough opponents in Lymm in a Halbro Premier league fixture. The match kicks off at 2 pm.

Caldy 2nd xv v Lymm last season
Image by Barry MacDonald

Caldy’s DOR was keen to stress the huge importance of Caldy’s 2nd xv and 3rd xv and the junior sections of the club.
“Caldy is very much a community club. The 1st xv squad is just the tip of a huge iceberg. The 2nd xv and the 3rd xv together with the colts, junior and mini sections are all part of a very big pathway that are unseen by many, but they are absolutely key to Caldy’s identity.”

 “Caldy 2nd xv’s unbelievable winning run stretching back to April 2019 hasn’t been as a result of serendipitous happenstance, it is down to brilliant and zealous coaching by Andrew Soutar and Christian Jones. Their prodigious work has not only resulted in an amazing record of success but is producing top quality players who are regularly breaking into the 1st xv match day squad. Including amongst others in recent seasons are Sam Olyott, Charlie Hyde, Matt Kilcourse, Matt & Dan Rabbette, Tom Akehurst and Cam Brown. The step up from the Halbro Premier League to Champ level rugby is colossal and that so many players are able to do so is essential for Caldy’s 1st xv and an enormous credit to Sooty and CJ and the dedication of many young players. Cam Brown who came to Caldy from Manchester Metropolitan University and presently lives in Preston puts everything in to training and on Saturday was the latest 2nd xv player to get his chance in the win over Doncaster Knights. That is hugely rewarding for Caldy and Cam.”

Gareth Davies also included the resurgent 3rd xv in his positive assessment of Caldy’s community roots. The 3rd xv play tomorrow away against Old Parkonians 1st xv with a 2.15 pm kick off. The 3rd xv was revived principally as a social side, but Davies also believes there is a real pathway from the 3rd xv up through the 2nd xv and eventually to Caldy’s 1st xv.

“Players develop at different rates, and this is particularly true of front five forwards. Tomas Williams is an example. Tomas played all the way through the junior teams and was probably coasting in his teenage years. Last season he played for the 3s and this season he has stepped up to the 2s. I have little doubt that if Tomas continues to improve at a similar rate, over the coming seasons he can force his way into the 1st xv squad. There are very few clubs in the Champ that have a pathway from minis & juniors all the way up through the colts,3s, 2s and into the Champ. I am exceedingly proud that Caldy has been able to do this and it is an enormous credit to everyone at every level at Caldy.  Caldy is a special rugby club and Paton Field really is ‘The Field of Dreams’”

There may be no 1st xv game tomorrow but do join Gareth Davies at Paton Field and watch Caldy’s 2nd xv against Lymm with a 2 pm kick off or go to Holme Lane, Birkenhead to watch Caldy’s 3rd xv play against Old Parkonians 1st xv with a 2.15 pm kick off

CJ & Sooty coaching Caldy’s awesome talent travelator
Image by Barry MacDonald

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Saturday 10th January – NOWIRUL Premier League
Caldy 2nd xv v Lymm 2nd xv kick off 2.00pm
at Paton Field
Caldy 2nd xv squad for tomorrow’s home game ;
1.  Matthew Rabbette
2.  Isaac Hardisty
3.  Tomas Williams
4.  Harry Lightfoot
5. Orson O’Rorke
6.  Jaco Oosthuyzen
7.  Jack Wilson
8.  Luke Denn
9.  Tom Akehurst
10. Dan Rabbette (c)
11. Cam Brown
12. Lucas Wiggins
13. Jacob Mitchell
14. Dylan Carroll
15. Gabe Mault
16. Paul Lewis
17. James Manuel
18. Toby Elkerton
19. James Pickering
20. Fin McGrath

Everyone welcome, please come along & support the Ravers !
Caldy Clubhouse Bar & ‘President’s Bar’ open from 12.00 noon
Caldy Kitchen catering from 1.00 pm

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Saturday 10th January – NOWIRUL Div 3 West
Oxton Parkonians v Caldy 3rd xv kick off 2.15pm
at Holme Lane, Oxton CH43 2HU
Caldy Rav3rs squad for tomorrow’s away game ;
1.  Tony Hirons
2.  Harry Evans
3.  Mathieu Sangare
4.  Elliot Cotton
5.  Craig Smithson
6.  Dave Edge
7.  Ben Wilson
8.  Matty Mountney
9.  Adam Horrocks
10. Felix Clarke
11. Alan Morris
12. Tom Shanahan (c)
13. Leo Grist-Corf
14. Ben Leek
15. Harri Williams
16. Rob Smith
17. Grant Wratten
18. Rhys Hughes
TR Tom Hughes

Please get yourself down there & support the Rav3rs !

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Community Rugby – Sunday 11th January 
After the big freeze last weekend curtailed matches, we go again this Sunday with a block booking for the Minis with Liverpool Collegiate and home Cheshire Cup games for the u13s and Colts. For the Minis, the odds are at home and the evens are away. Our u13s have a Cheshire Cup double header with Chester. No matches for the u14s and u15s as Liverpool Collegiate are in Lancashire Cup action. u16s are away to Parkonians. For the Colts, it’s a double home header of Cheshire Cup Quarter Finals, both against Bowdon.
u6 training at home
u7s, u9s, u11s at home v Liverpool Collegiate
u8s, u10s, u12s away at Liverpool Collegiate
u14s, u16s, u18s Girls training at home
u13s Cheshire Cup at home v Chester
u14s, u15s at home training
u16s away at Parkonians
u17s Junior Colts Cheshire Cup QF at home v Bowdon kick off 12.30pm
u18s Senior Colts – no game, unfortunately Bowdon have cancelled  

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Good luck to everyone & enjoy your rugby this 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 coming up in January

Saturday 17th January – NOWIRUL Premier League
Manchester 2nd xv v Caldy 2nd xv kick off 2.00pm at Grove Park, Cheadle Hulme SK8 7NB

Sunday 18th January – Senior Colts league A
Caldy u18s v Stockport u18s kick off 2.00pm at Paton Field

Sunday 18th January – Halbro NW Junior Colts League A
Caldy u17s v Kirkby Lonsdale u17s xv kick off 12.30pm at Paton Field

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Saturday 24th January – Champ Rugby round 14
Richmond v Caldy kick off 3.00pm at The RAG, Twickenham Road, Richmond TW9 2SF
For those unable to travel to Richmond this game will be live streamed on TV in the clubhouse at Caldy RFC

Saturday 24th January – NOWIRUL Div 3 West
Capenhurst v Caldy Rav3rs kick off 2.00pm at Capenhurst Sports Club, Capenhurst CH1 6HL

Sunday 25th January – Senior Colts league A
Chester u18s v Caldy u18s kick off 2.00pm at Hare Lane, Chester CH3 7DB

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Saturday 31st January – Champ Rugby round 15
Caldy v Nottingham kick off 2.00pm at Paton Field

This will be the weekend’s Champ Rugby Live Streaming Showcase game
The Champ Rugby trophy will be coming to Caldy together with massive pitch banners & guard of honour flags
There will also be extra tv cameras to capture all the build up, action & match day atmosphere at Paton Field ! 
We need to pack JJ’s bank & the Ravers party stand and make it one to remember.

Match Tickets are available to buy here : https://caldyrugbyclub.com/buy-tickets-membership/
Hospitality details & bookings please contact Kenzie email : [email protected]

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