Caldy – That Friday Feeling 17th Oct ’25

Two bonus wins from the first two games is as much as Caldy could have hoped for in their first two games at Paton Field. However, a Friday night fixture under lights at Nottingham’s Lady Bay ground is an altogether different proposition. The logistics do not favour Caldy’s part-time players and coaching staff. The teachers in the squad will still be wiping away chalk dust at 3 pm and doctors, lawyers and others are likely to be fully immersed in the blood and guts of their day jobs well into the afternoon.

However, the Ravers will need to quickly switch on to this evening’s challenge as it is formidable. The Archers are also two bonus wins from their opening two games and with a substantially better defensive record than Caldy they sit in second place in the table. Nottingham opened this season’s campaign with a four try demolition of Doncaster Knights 26-8 at Lady Bay which they backed up with last Saturday’s 26-7 away win against London Scottish.

Caldy have a 50/50 record against Nottingham in the Champ with 3 wins apiece. Two of those Caldy victories have been won at Lady Bay including a thrilling 29-34 triumph in May last year which included this cracker by Will Robinson – click on this link to Caldy Rugby Club Facebook –  (1) Facebook

Despite the Ravers’ encouraging early form Caldy’s Head Coach Matt Cairns is under no illusions as to the step up in intensity that will be required tonight. “10 points from our first two games is precisely the start we needed but last week’s performance did have areas for improvement which we need to work on. Our performance at Lady Bay at the end of last season provides us with some encouragement, but in our experience Nottingham have been very strong at the start of the season. They are a very well-coached side with power, extreme pace and exceptional players throughout the spine of their team. They have again started the season impressively and we are going to have to work extremely hard for the full 80 minutes if we are to get a positive result.”

Matt Cairns has selected the following squad for this evening’s Champ fixture at Lady Bay against Nottingham. The match kicks off at 7.45 pm.

1. N Rushton
2. M Gallagher
3. J Sproston
4. M Gerrard
5. T Sanders
6. S Olyott
7. J Jones
8. JJ Dickinson (c)
9. T Akehurst
10.  K Wilkinson
11.  O Ene
12.  M Barlow
13.  C Wilkinson
14.  R Tudor
15.  M Kilcourse

Replacements ; O Hearn, M Weatherby, R Higginson, M Loboda,
D Owen, D Hanson, D Rabbette, J Mitchell

Caldy’s Tom Sanders in the pink against Richmond last Saturday
Image – Barry MacDonald

For those who cannot make the trip to Nottingham we will be live streaming tonight’s Friday Night Lights game in the clubhouse so please come down to the “Shack on the Hill” and support your Ravers who will be aiming to make it 3 in a row against another unbeaten side in Champ Rugby 2025/26.

Image – Lewis Barker / Francesca Rowley 

Caldy clubhouse ‘President’s Bar’ & ‘The Hatch’ catering will all be open from 6.30pm tonight

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Community Rugby – Sunday 19th October 
This Sunday we have another local derby, this time with our friends up the road at Hoylake. The odds are at home and the evens away. u16s are away to Parkonians and the u13s have an extra bonus home game vs Northwich.
The Colts are into the last round of their preliminary North West leagues, with a double header against Stockport. The Junior Colts made it back-to-back wins with a victory away against Stockport and are hoping to make 3-in-a-row at their home game with Widnes on Sunday – kick off at 12.30pm. The Senior Colts match was called off due to the away team not having enough players, and now have a trip to Whitchurch, kicking off at 2.00pm.
All support very welcome !

Minis
u6s training at home
u7s, u9s, u11s at home v Hoylake
u10s training at home
u8s, u12s away v Hoylake
Juniors
u13s at home v Hoylake & Northwich
u14s away v Hoylake
u15s at home v Hoylake
u16s away v Oxton Parkonians
Girls
u12s, u14s, u16s, u18s training at home 
Junior Colts
u17s at home v Widnes kick off 12.30pm  
Senior Colts
u18s away v Whitchurch kick off 2.00pm

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 next Saturday 25th October
Champ Rugby round 4
Caldy v Cambridge kick off 3.00pm at Paton Field
Match Tickets are available to buy via our club website
go to : https://caldyrugbyclub.com/buy-tickets-membership/
plus
NOWIRUL Premier League
Caldy 2nd xv v Fylde Hawks 2nd xv kick off 3.00pm at Paton Field

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Results last weekend
1st xv – Caldy 27 – 21 Richmond
u18s Senior Colts – home walkover Caldy win
u17s Junior Colts – Stockport 17 – 36 Caldy
Caldy Junior Colts in action, a great win during an entertaining match away to Stockport.

Images thanks to Paolo Bafico-Cadle