By the time that this week’s issue of the Friday Feeling is published Cornish Pirates…
A View from JJ’s Bank
| 1st xv result – Caldy 21 – 41 Cornish Pirates 2nd xv result – Caldy 43 – 29 Preston Grasshoppers u18s result – Caldy 15 – 28 Chester |
 Champ Rugby round 17 – Saturday 14th February 2026 Match report thanks to John Lyon Caldy ….……………..… 21 pts Tries: Gallagher 24, Higginson 53, Akehurst 75 Conversions: K Wilkinson 24, 53, 75 Cornish Pirates …….… 41 pts Tries: Relton 15, French 21, Ratcliff 42, Yates 49, Agbongbon 72, Ward 77 Conversions: Sinclair 15, 22, 42, 49, Penalty: Sinclair 62 With the two teams tied on 43 league points and separated only by Caldy’s better win record, the clash between the eighth placed Ravers and the ninth placed Pirates at Paton Field was pivotal. The Pirates took the win courtesy of their greater urgency and their ability to score at crucial points in the game. Pirates head coach Alan Paver summed up the result: “We had a better blend to our game today and our physicality on both sides of the ball caused Caldy problems.” Pirates opened the scoring after pressure on the Caldy line led to a score in the corner for right wing Arthur Relton. With neither side seeming able to make compelling line breaks the teams instead traded tries from driving mauls. Hooker Matt Gallgher touched down for Caldy with Kieran Wilkinson’s conversion bringing the sides level. Five minutes later replacement prop James French reclaimed a seven-point lead for the Pirates from a turbo charged driving maul. As a largely even half wound down two gilt edged scoring chances were butchered by the Ravers. It was the visitors who started the second period with the greater purpose. Quick fire converted tries from Luke Ratcliff and Harry Yates brought up the bonus point for the Pirates leaving Caldy to chase the game. Although the Ravers scored two further converted tries through Ryan Higginson and replacement scrum-half Tom Akehurst neither of these scores were sufficient to place pressure on the Pirates. The visitors always remained two scores ahead courtesy of a Louie Sinclair penalty and an unconverted try by the powerful No.8 Tomiwa Agbongbon. In the final minutes Matthew Ward scored the visitors sixth and final try. Caldy head coach Matt Cairns didn’t gloss over a poor home showing. “Our failure to close out scoring opportunities in the first half really cost us. It was a poor performance all round,” he said. “We lacked the necessary urgency and application that is the hallmark of our game, particularly in front of our home support. We have a lot of work to do before next week’s game against Worcester.”   Images thanks to Barry MacDonald & Kieran Free Caldy : Hyde, Robinson, K Wilkinson, Barlow (Barker 59), Tudor, C Wilkinson (Mitchell 64), Wynn (Akehurst 59), Weatherby (Rabbette 70), Gallagher (Hearn 52), Rushton (Higginson 52) Loboda, (Sproston 52), Olyott, Ridgway, Jones (Owen 54), Dickinson (c) Cornish Pirates : Mawson, Relton, Ribbons, Yates, Cambriani (Ward 64) Sinclair (Robson 68), Hiscoks (Rigelsford 70) Heaney (Stevens – Woodmansey 68), Moody (Pritchard 68), Petch (French 12), Hallam (Cannon 48), King, Everett, Ratcliff (Suttor 70), Agbongbon Referee : Jonathan Cook Attendance : 1,219   Stats & images thanks to Champ Rugby Oval Insights – Saturday 14th February – NOWIRUL Premier League Caldy 2nd xv ……………………………. 43 pts Preston Grasshoppers 2nd xv ….. 29 pts Caldy Tries : Rabbette x 2, Mault, Boodhun, Wiggins, Kilcourse, Carroll Conversions : Rabbette x 4 Another great win for Caldy’s 2nd xv secured top spot in the Premier League by 1 point over Preston Grasshoppers 2nd xv. A very competitive, high scoring and closely fought game between the two strongest 2nd xv squads in the Northwest played out on 3G pitch thanks to University of Liverpool. Caldy 2nd xv have played 13, won 13 in the league and continue their unbeaten run in all competitions from April 2019 ! Next up is Fylde Hawks 2nd xv at Paton Field on Saturday 21st February. – Sunday 15th February – Halbro NW Senior Colts League A Caldy u18s ………….. 15 pts Chester u18s ……….. 28 pts Match report thanks to Paul Clark The Senior Colts hosted National Cup quarter-finalists, Chester, in their latest League A match. A victory for either team would leave them well placed to win the league, so stakes were high. A tough first half ensued with neither team giving an inch in defence. Chester made good use of the little wind at the backs, making good territory gains through their kick chase. It was 25 minutes before any score, with Chester scoring the first try. Caldy battled back on the stroke of half time through a fantastic run by Isaac Waldron. 5-7 at the break. The second half started well for Chester with two early converted tries for the visitors. Caldy though battled back with their forwards moving through the phases with Alexander Clark eventually scoring out wide. 10-21. Into the final quarter and Caldy were still battling hard. No quarter given and another try for each side with captain Luke MacDonald scoring for Caldy and the match ending 15-28. Chester were worthy winners – winning the break down battle and kicked well both out of hand and converting all their tries. The lads gave their all on the pitch, but sadly didn’t quite have enough this time. We move on, and will welcome Newport Salop to Paton Field this Sunday.    All images thanks to Barry MacDonald – Rugby coming up  Saturday 21st February – Champ Rugby round 18 Worcester Warriors v Caldy kick off 12.00 noon at Sixways Stadium For those unable to make the trip to Worcester, this game will be live streamed in the clubhouse at Paton Field Saturday 21st February – NOWIRUL Premier League Caldy 2nd xv v Fylde Hawks 2nd xv kick off 2.00 pm at Paton Field Sunday 22nd February – Halbro NW Senior Colts League A Caldy u18s v Newport Salop u18s kick off 2.00 pm at Paton Field Sunday 22nd February – Halbro NW Junior Colts League A Sandbach u17s v Caldy u17s kick off 12.30 pm at Bradwall Road, Sandbach CW11 1RA Saturday 28th February – Champ Rugby round 19 Caldy v Bedford Blues kick off 2.00 pm 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] Saturday 28th February – NOWIRUL Premier League Caldy 2nd xv v Sedgley Park 2nd xv kick off 2.00 pm at Paton Field – Plus the 2026 Guinness Men’s Six Nations Round 3 games will all be live on TV in the clubhouse  – |
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