Caldy show first-half promise against Coventry despite second-half fightback
Caldy 15 – 43 Coventry
Caldy produced an encouraging first-half performance against high-flying Coventry at Paton Field on Saturday, taking a deserved 15-10 lead into the interval before the visitors’ full-time quality and attacking firepower ultimately proved decisive in the second half.
The Ravers started brightly, with Ben Parkin opening the scoring through an eighth-minute penalty. Coventry responded with two tries from Jack Reeves, but Caldy showed plenty of attacking intent and determination to remain firmly in the contest. Their response came through a familiar source, as Ollie Hearn powered over following an excellently executed line-out and driving maul. The score marked another impressive contribution from the Caldy hooker, who continues to be a significant threat from set-piece situations. As half-time approached, the Ravers produced one of the afternoon’s standout moments. A beautifully weighted kick from Parkin created the opportunity, with Harry Oliver showing excellent anticipation and power to catch the ball over the top and touch down. Parkin added the conversion to give Caldy a five-point advantage at the break.
Having put themselves in a strong position, Caldy knew they would need another big effort after the restart against a Coventry side boasting considerable depth and experience.
The visitors emerged with renewed intensity, with Reeves completing his hat-trick before further tries from Sam Maunder, Rhys Fulford and Tomas Bacon extended their advantage. Reeves eventually finished the afternoon with four tries, as Coventry demonstrated why they remain one of the division’s most dangerous attacking sides. Despite the difficult second half, there were encouraging signs for Caldy, particularly in an opening 40 minutes that demonstrated the team’s ability to compete with established full-time opposition.
Speaking to reporter Jack Riley after the game, Head Coach Matt Cairns highlighted the work that had gone into preparing for Coventry’s defensive strengths, particularly at the line-out. “Coventry have got a good maul D. We identified that and we came up with a couple of ideas for it, which ended up scoring off one, which is always pleasing when that goes well.”
Cairns was also encouraged by his side’s defensive efforts throughout much of the opening period, adding: “Defence first off was really good at times, 90% of that first half.”
With younger players continuing to gain valuable experience at Championship level, the fixture provided another opportunity for development against quality opposition.
The Ravers now enter a demanding period of fixtures, with Saturday’s trip to Cornish Pirates followed by another difficult encounter against Ealing Trailfinders.
Cairns acknowledged the challenge ahead but emphasised the importance of continuing to work hard and build on the positives. “We’ll just keep trucking, keep improving. We’ve got a tough couple of weeks ahead of us. We’ve got the full-time teams at the moment, Coventry, Pirates next week, Ealing the week after. It’s going to be a tough period, but it’s coming regardless, so we’ve got to make sure we keep working hard and preparing well for it.”
While Saturday’s result was ultimately disappointing, Caldy’s first-half display offered a reminder of the quality and determination within the squad. The challenge now is to turn those encouraging passages of play into a more consistent 80-minute performance as the Ravers continue their Championship campaign.
Attention now turns to Cornwall, where Caldy face Cornish Pirates next Saturday, with a 1pm kick-off.
2’s – The Ravers Keep Their Unbeaten Record Intact
by Barry Quatermass
Stockport provided the opposition for the second team in the day’s second fixture, with the light already beginning to fade as the match kicked off.
Caldy once again took to the field with a much-changed side, and it was Stockport who made the brighter start. Enjoying the lion’s share of possession, they put Caldy under sustained pressure and eventually broke the deadlock after ten minutes with a well-taken penalty.
There was an ominous feel to the opening exchanges, and more than a few on the terraces wondered whether this might finally be the day the seconds’ remarkable winning streak came to an end.
Stockport brought plenty of physicality and endeavour, but Caldy had pace and ambition in abundance. Once they got their hands on the ball, they proved capable of striking quickly and decisively. In what seemed like the blink of an eye, they had put 19 points on the board. (A few relieved sighs around the terraces!)
Rather than kick on from there, however, Caldy seemed to retreat into their shells. The game descended into something of a midfield slugfest, which seemed to mirror the gloom now settling over the Wirral. Both sides added to their scores during this period, but the quality of the rugby had noticeably dipped.
That was until the final ten minutes, when indiscipline threatened to undo all of Caldy’s earlier good work. Penalties cost them ground, two players found themselves in the sin bin and suddenly Caldy were left defending a slender lead with just 13 men on the pitch.
Perhaps it was the wake-up call they needed. Caldy rose to the challenge, dug deep, nullified Stockport’s efforts and then, for good measure, marched up the pitch to score a wonderful try.
It was Stockport who finished the match on the back foot, while Caldy’s seconds marched on, their remarkable unbeaten record of more than four years still very much intact.
Caldy 2nds 36 – Stockport 17
Rav3r’s provide spirited performance despite mass changes
by David Arthur
Once again there were wholesale alterations and a line-up of the bare 15 required, with 7 changes from last week’s winning team, took the field against a large Oldershaw squad, with their mix of old stagers, regulars and a debutant.
Played in great spirit, it was a more even contest than the scoreline suggests, but each time Caldy got the ball wide and threatened to break out into the open spaces, a pass was adjudged to have been forward. It became the source of no little frustration to the lads to be called back – again.
The effort in the first half was undone in part by the lack of familiarity between players, but the second half saw real improvement: momentum built and opportunities became more frequent. But in the end, our best plays were called back and the opening score eluded us.
There were a number of very strong performances and the defensive tackle delivered by Leo Grist Corfe will live long in the memory: corner flagging from the opposite wing, Leo caught his prey metres short of the try line, stopping his momentum dead and driving the hapless ball carrier into touch.
Matty Mountney as ever led from the front and was given enthusiastic and committed support by all. Several Senior Colts who have joined the Rav3rs, acquitted themselves very well again and show great promise.
It was good to see Oscar Crutchley get in valuable minutes as part of his recovery programme. He was confident, assured and happily looks to be well on his way back to full fitness. Personally, I think he should remain with the Rav3rs for several weeks, perhaps months, as part of his convalescence.
There were the inevitable knocks, strains and so on, eventually leading to us borrowing a player or two from Oldershaw, but the main thing was that the game went ahead and was enjoyed by all.
So far, 5 games into the season, the Rav3rs have fielded 36 different players. A big “Thank you” to the core players who are turning out each week and giving us a solid platform from which to build. As with previous years, we will develop and progress throughout the course of the season; it’s great to be involved and I know the players who get the chance to experience that improvement will enjoy it enormously, find out more about themselves as players and take a real pride in the achievement.
Oldershaw 1st XV 24-0 Caldy Rav3rs 3rd XV
Narrow defeat for Junior Colts despite defensive efforts
by Nigel Millington
It was a challenging afternoon at Hare Lane, Chester for the lads. Having outscored Chester 4 tries to 3 and led for most of the game, we were undone by a late penalty kick which sealed victory for Chester at the death. We played well in patches and scored some great team tries, through winger Ned Herdman, outside centre Henry MacNamara and a brace from fullback Harry Woodley, but we couldnt convert those tries to build scoreboard pressure. Unforced errors and occasional poor discipline was our undoing in the end. A special mention to hooker Sam Denn for a committed and brave defensive effort which was recognised with the man of the match award, and also Fly Half Will Kerrin who controlled the attacking phases with skill, as well as putting in a defensive shift down the middle of the park when targeted. It was certainly a case of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, but credit to Chester for a gutsy performance. Our lads will be better for the experience for sure. Finally a big call out to our travelling parental and squad support, who outnumbered the home fans 3 to 1 👏
Chester JCs 22 – Caldy JCs 20
