Caldy – That Friday Feeling – 28th February ’25

Tomorrow is an important day for at least three reasons. Meteorologically speaking it is the first day of Spring, all of Wales will be celebrating ………St David’s Day and Caldy’s 2^nd xv will step out at Paton Field to take on their toughest rivals Chester. The Hare Lane side, who were the last team to beat Caldy way back in April 2019, always provide formidable opposition. Last time out under the lights at Hare Lane, Caldy came away with the win after a brilliant display of fast running rugby by both sides. With conditions expected to be perfect for a similarly fast paced open contest, Coach Andrew Soutar is more focused on the performance than the result.

“It is staggering that we have gone nearly 5 years and some 120 games unbeaten but to be honest that isn’t the metric we really focus on. Our job is to be the pathway for talented young players to be able to step up to 1^st xv level which in our case means Championship rugby. Accordingly, when we come to the end of the season the real yardstick is not the number of wins or the position in the league it is all about the number of players we have exposed to Championship level rugby.”

Over their tenure as part of a very successful and stable Caldy coaching team, ‘Sooty’ and Christian Jones have been instrumental in enabling this hugely important transition. “Caldy’s operating model is all about developing local players to be able to play at the highest level they can” said Sooty “whether these players have come through Caldy’s junior set up or have joined from other Northwest clubs or Universities our primary goal is to prepare them for Championship level rugby.”

CJ & Sooty’s awesome talent travelator

Last time out against Fylde

Dylan Carroll & Lucas Wiggins debut against Doncaster Knights
All images courtesy of Barry Macdonald 

That so many young players have made this significant transition is testament to the quality and professionalism of the coaching team that Caldy’s Director of Rugby Gareth Davies has assembled. “All of the 50 or so senior players train together on a Tuesday and Thursday, and they all know and understand our style of play and what is required at 1^st xv level. So far this season we have used 49 players in the 1^st xv match day squad.”

Players joining Caldy from clubs at level 5 and below inevitably need a period to adjust to the rigours of level 2 rugby, but many have done so with very conspicuous success. Matt Kilcourse (Bowden), Jacob Mitchell (Wirral), Sam Olyott (Ellesmere Port), Freddie Stevenson (Liverpool University), Mike Cartmill (Liverpool University), are just a few of the players who have moved to Caldy, spent a period of time in the 2^nd xv before breaking through at 1^st xv level. There is no doubt that this pathway is working.

Tomorrow’s squad for the derby fixture against Chester features a mix of Caldy’s home grown young players and other local players who have moved to Paton Field to pursue their ambition of playing Championship level rugby. Brothers Matt and Dan Rabbette (Sefton), Charlie Hyde (Winnington Park), Jack Ellam (Lymm), James Pickering (Hoylake), Callum Butler (Liverpool University) and Sam Roberts (Warrington Wolves) are some of the players pushing for Championship action. Sooty sees this pathway benefiting Northwest rugby as well as Caldy. “Every young player that comes to Caldy from lower ranked clubs works hard and gets his chance at Championship level rugby is inspiring others to push on and make the best of themselves. It gives the coaching team a real boost when a young player is able to step up to the 1^st xv and play Championship level rugby. For me and CJ this is what it is all about”

Tomorrow’s game against Chester at Paton Field will showcase our future Ravers against an always resilient and competitive Chester side. Entry is free for the match which kicks off at the later time of 3 pm. These young players from both sides deserve a good crowd to support them and Sooty is hoping for a similar turnout to the 350 or so who watched November’s hugely enjoyable Friday night game between the sides at Hare Lane.

Andrew Soutar and Christian R G Jones have selected the following squad for tomorrow’s Bathtime Premier League fixture at Paton Field, Caldy 2nd xv v Chester 2nd xv which kicks off at 3.00 pm.

1. M Rabbette
2. J Ellam
3. N Rushton
4. P Lewis
5. H Lightfoot
6. C Butler
7. J Wilson
8. C Sabouni
9. J Pickering
10. D Rabbette
11.  S Roberts
12.  L Wiggins
13.  J Mitchell
14.  D Carroll
15.  R Cooke
16.  J Chandigere
17. T Williams
18.  E Dale
19.  I Hardisty
20.  T Elkerton
21.  R Waring
22.  F Clarke
23.  C Hyde

Get down to Paton Field to watch a high-quality and fast-paced local derby between Caldy and Chester !

Caldy clubhouse Bar & Kitchen will be open tomorrow from 1.00pm

Community Rugby this Sunday 2nd March
This Sunday most age groups have the return local derby fixtures against Wirral. u12s are entertaining Whitchurch and the u16s also have a touring team from Gosforth visiting.
Good luck to the Junior Colts who resume Cheshire Cup action with a home match vs Lymm at 12.30pm
Minis
u6s training at home
u7, u8s, u9s, u10s & u11s home &/or away v Wirral
u12s home v Whitchurch
Juniors
u13s training / match tbc
u14s v Birkenhead Park
u15s away v Wirral
u16s home v Wirral & Gosforth 
Girls
u14s, u16s, u18s all at home training
Junior Colts
u17s Cheshire Cup at home Caldy v Lymm kick off 12.30pm    
Senior Colts
No game

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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Future Ravers success in National u18s Schools Rugby 

Several Caldy future Ravers from our Senior & Junior Colts started for St Anselm’s College 1st xv on Wednesday in the Continental Tyres National u18 Schools Rugby Competition Plate Semi Final
Result – St Anslem’s College 35 -12 Ipswich College

Congratulations – Finn McGrath, Ethan Milner, Leo Grist-Corf, Alex Kerr, Jamie Arista, Ed Unsworth, Tony Hirons – for making it through to the National u18 Schools Rugby Plate Final which will be played at Ealing Trailfinders in March. 

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

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New bank account for Caldy Sports Fields Trust 
Please note Caldy Sports Fields Trust has now moved from HSBC to Lloyds Bank and has a new bank account with access to internet banking. All future donations and payments to Caldy Sports Fields Trust should be directed to the new bank account details below :
Account name      Caldy Sports Fields Trust
Account Number    28028868
Sort code           30-54-66

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You’re invited to our next Dicky’s Dinner 
Friday 4th April 2025
7.00pm for 7.30pm until late 
Three course dinner, bar & raffle in the clubhouse

To reserve your dinner place / places please pay by bank transfer
 £30 per head to:
Account name : SM&PP Dickinson
Sort code : 09-01-28
Account no : 48815348
Payment reference : Dicky’s Dinner

To book a table of 10 (with names) please contact Pauline Dickinson :
email : [email protected]
mobile : 07971 827717
If you wish to donate a raffle prize please also contact Pauline