| 1st xv result – Caldy 20 – 17 Hartpury 2nd xv result – Chester 29 – 48 Caldy |
 Champ Rugby round 23 – Saturday 11th April 2026 Match report – John Lyon Caldy …………..… 20 pts Tries: Wynn 11, Gallagher 55, Owen 67 Conversion: K Wilkinson 10 Penalty: K Wilkinson 73 Hartpury …………..… 17 pts Tries: Holliday 5, Knight 37 Conversions: Bazalgette 6, 37 Penalty: Bazalgette 30 Caldy secure their league status for fifth year in a row. In their four seasons at level two, the two sides that Caldy had never previously beaten were Hartpury and Worcester. That the Ravers won at Paton Field yesterday to secure their league status and provide the Wirral with Champ rugby for a fifth season was a source of considerable satisfaction for Caldy’s director of rugby Gareth Davies. “Another immense defensive performance, limiting a free scoring Hartpury side to just two tries cements our league position,” he said. “It was a top performance by the squad showcasing our resilience and togetherness. We will have a few beers tonight.” Playing with the benefit of a strong wind it was the visitors that were first to score through Oliver Holliday who finished a delightful wraparound move by scoring in the corner. Harry Bazalgette nailed the tricky conversion. With defences on top there were few line breaks by either side, but the Ravers’ dominant pack did provide a couple of good scoring opportunities which were fluffed by over-eagerness. Eventually livewire scrum-half Ollie Wynn did get the home side on the scoreboard, breaking from just within the Hartpury half to step his way to the posts, providing an easy conversion for Kieran Wilkinson. The half ended with a Bazalgette penalty being backed up by another converted try for the visitors after a cross-field kick put Max Knight in for an unopposed score. In the conditions Hartpury’s 7-17 lead never looked to be enough. The combination of a ferocious Caldy defence and some astute positional play by Wilkinson ensured that the next 40 minutes were played in the visitors’ half. Caldy hooker Matt Gallagher went over from a driven maul to bring the Ravers within a score and with Bazalgette in the bin the home side turned the screw. When Hartpury were not able to exit from a period of sustained Caldy pressure Caldy’s relentless open side Dan Owen scored to bring the scores level. Wilkinson kicked a penalty to win the game for the Ravers. The result confirms that with three games to go Caldy are clear of the relegation play offs which will be between Richmond and London Scottish. At the other end of the table the reverse at Paton Field pushes Hartpury down to seventh position with their play-off place taken by Cornish Pirates.    All images thanks to OneBall Creative Caldy : Hyde, Robinson, C Wilkinson, Barlow, Tudor, K Wilkinson, Wynn, Rushton ( Weatherby 55 ), Gallagher, Higginson ( Sproston 55 ), Loboda, Hodkinson, Olyott ( Gerrard 60 ), Owen, Dickinson (c). Hearn, Wilson, Akehurst, Brown, Barker. Hartpury : Denty, Powell ( Lewis 70 ), Smith, Knight, Holliday, Bazalgette, Gealy ( Allford 76 ), Trevett ( Bellamy 55 ), Crane ( Hunt 61 ), Benz-Salomon ( Gibson 64 ), Cobbett ( Paramour 61 ), Davies, Taylor, Short ( Hayler 61 ), Worts, Worsnip. Referee : Jonathan Cook Attendance : 1,451   Stats & images thanks to Champ Rugby Oval Insights – Saturday 11th April – NOWIRUL Premier League Chester 2nd xv …………..… 29 pts Caldy 2nd xv ………………… 48 pts Tries: Mitchell x 2, Carroll x 3, Elkerton, Wiggins, Conversions: Carroll x 5, Penalty : Carroll A very strong Chester performance resulted in a closely fought contest throughout with both teams racking up 5 try’s apiece up until the last 20 minutes when Caldy took control and ran out deserved winners to go clear at the top of the Premier League by 4 points. That’s 18 wins out of 18 in the league this season. Well done to all the playing squad and the coaching team who have overseen an incredible unbeaten run of 7 years since April 2019 ! Next up top of the table clash with second placed Preston Grasshoppers 2nd xv v first placed Caldy 2nd xv this Friday night 17th April at Lightfoot Green Lane, Fulwood, Preston. – Rugby coming up Friday 17th April – NOWIRUL Premier League Preston Grasshoppers 2nd xv v Caldy 2nd xv kick off 7.45 pm at Lightfoot Green Lane, Fulwood, Preston PR4 0AP This game is not to be missed – the two best rugby squads in the league separated by only 4 points at the top of the Premier League. Please get yourself along to Preston this Friday night to support the Ravers ! Saturday 18th April – Champ Rugby round 24 Ampthill v Caldy kick off 3.00 pm at Dillingham Park, Ampthill Saturday 18th April – NOWIRUL Div 3 West Newton Le Willows v Caldy 3rd xv kick off 3.00 pm at Newton Le Willows Sports Club Crow Lane East, Newton Le Willows WA12 9XE Saturday 18th April – Girls Rugby Fun Day 11.00 am – 1.00pm at Paton Field followed by 2026 Guinness Womens Six Nations Rugby – Scotland v England – on TV 1.30pm Sunday 19th April – u18s Cheshire Cup Final Caldy u18s Senior Colts v Chester u18s Senior Colts kick off 1.00pm at Macclesfield RUFC, Priory Park, Priory Lane, Cheshire SK10 4AF Saturday 25th April – NOWIRUL Premier League Caldy 2nd xv v Wirral 2nd xv kick off 3.00 pm at Paton Field Saturday 25th April – NOWIRUL Div 3 West New Brighton 2nd xv v Caldy 3rd xv kick off 3.00 pm at New Brighton RUFC, Reeds Lane, Moreton, CH46 3RH – Events coming up Caldy RFC End of Season Ball  Caldy RFC End of Season Ball is open for bookings ! Whether you’d like a table for family, friends, colleagues, or just a small group. It’s a great opportunity to enjoy a fantastic evening’s entertainment at Thornton Hall Hotel including welcome drinks, 3 course dinner, Senior Rugby Awards, live music plus £1000 prize box ! Don’t miss out – book your places / table today and be part of this special end of season celebration. Community Rugby section – please contact Mary Campbell 07940 233303 to book Senior Rugby section & all others – please contact Lynn Ridgway 07714 992685 to book- |
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