This year’s annual Junior rugby festival at Paton Field was another roaring success enjoyed by some 1500 people arriving in 500+ cars.
The event involved 30 teams across 4 junior age groups u13, u14, u15 and u16s from Wirral, Lancashire, Shropshire and North Wales. The event occupied 6 pitches and required 9 referees from the Manchester and District Society to support the event.
Matches were played in a great spirit with some excellent rugby on show on both sides of the road.
Congratulations to :-
u13s Junior Rugby Cup winners – Birkenhead Park
u14s Junior Rugby Cup winners – Wirral
u15s Junior Rugby Cup winners – Whitchurch
u16s Junior Rugby Cup winners – Caldy who continued their Cup success from last year.
Nigel Millington presented the u16s Junior Rugby Cup to Caldy’s captain Zac Davies
Heavy rain could not dampen the Caldy celebrations
Caldy u16s Junior Rugby Cup winning squad
This is a unique and well attended annual junior rugby event, which wouldn’t happen without the help of the army of parent volunteers across all age groups. Huge thanks to everyone who contributed both behind the scenes and on the day to ensure a smooth running and enjoyable festival for all.
I also want to thank our catering staff, burger van, ice cream vans, homemade cake stand and Ginger Cat coffee truck, parking co-ordinator Steve Leek, multiple first aiders, Tim Kilpatrick for programme production, MADS Refs, Wirral Awards for supplying the trophies, Kieran Free for photography, John and Phil Wylie and the Last of the Summer Wine gang for all their help preparing the pitches and facilities.
A final big thank for all the great regional rugby clubs for sticking with it when the showers arrived and for making it such an enjoyable occasion, creating more memories for the players.
Roll on next year and the 34th Caldy Junior Rugby Festival !
Nigel Millington
