Caldy 35 – Chinnor 38
7-31 down with just one minute of the second half played Caldy would have taken a final score of 35-38 and a losing bonus point. However, in a classic game of two halves the Ravers could have and probably should have picked up their first home win. It was that close. This mysterious dichotomy wasn’t due to the wind, there wasn’t any, but perhaps there was a clue in the 9-3 first half penalty count and the corresponding 5-9 second half count.
At the start Caldy gifted Chinnor the momentum with an over hit kick off. From there the first half deteriorated for the Ravers. Constant pressure applied by the visitors’ juggernaut pack led to a succession of 9 penalties and 2 yellow cards against the home side. With the Ravers’ set piece also badly creaking Chinnor took full advantage and firm control of the match. On 5 minutes Connor Brockschmidt was driven over from a penalty line out to give Chinnor the first of their four first half tries which standoff Liam Richman converted.
Caldy’s debilitating diet of non-stop defence was momentarily broken when they eventually managed to get their hands on the ball. Three or four minutes of possession and 20 phases led to a try in the corner for Will Robinson expertly converted by Ollie Davies.
This was the home side’s only success in a difficult first half. Chinnor’s Callum Pascoe, Jack Metcalf and Benjamin Currie picked up three more first half tries, all coming as a direct consequence of the unremitting pressure exerted by the Chinnor pack. Caldy had no answer.
Chinnor started the second half in similar fashion, Metcalf scoring his second try within a minute of the restart. 7-31 down and 39 minutes to play it was all looking very ugly for the home side. Then the Ravers flicked a switch, and a light came on powered by Caldy’s bench. A huge shift in momentum and suddenly it was Chinnor on the backfoot with the home side scoring some sparkling tries. Tries by Connor Wilkinson, Matt Gallagher and a brace from Ollie Davies brought Caldy within 3 points after Chinnor hooker Christopher Moore had previously buttressed the visitors lead with a try under the posts.
It was Chinnor’s turn to be desperately hanging on and after conceding some 5 or 6 penalties in the red zone the visitors were very fortunate to escape any yellow cards. Five minutes to go and it looked as though the Ravers could clinch a remarkable comeback. They had chances. A monstrous penalty touch finder from Oliver Davies was slightly overcooked and two successive line breaks putting Caldy clear were recalled for transgressions. A remarkable win eluded them but after a hugely difficult first 40 minutes the Ravers showed determination and no little skill to get themselves back into a contest that was seemingly over at the break.
Yellow cards for winger Rhys Tudor and standoff Oliver Davies took the gloss off otherwise fine performances by the pair and despite limited possession Caldy’s vibrant back play deserved a better result.
Next Friday the Ravers are on their travels again with a tough game under the lights against newly promoted Rotherham who have already turned over big guns, Coventry and Bedford, at Clifton Lane.
Caldy’s next home game is on Saturday 17th October against Ampthill with a 3 pm kick off.
Other Results from the weekend
NW Div 3 West
Caldy 3rd xv 52 – 10 Port Sunlight 1st xv
NW Colts League Cups
U18s Senior Colts – Leigh 36 – 12 Caldy
U17s Junior Colts – Caldy 40 – 5 Sandbach
