Tomorrow the Ravers will travel to Cambridge for round 16 of the Champ, buoyed by last week’s exhilarating 21-19 comeback win against Nottingham which pushed them up to eighth in the Champ table.
The Ravers and the ‘Blood and Sand’ have been competing against each other since 2017 when they were both in National 1. After a strong away performance earlier in the season at Paton Field where they scored four quality tries, Cambridge will surely have targeted this reverse fixture for a home win. Cambridge’s sponsors lounge is sold out, and they will be supported at Ellgia Fields by a big and vociferous partisan crowd which may well be their biggest of the season.
Despite Cambridge’s home advantage and the importance of the match pundits on rugby’s social media ‘Rolling Maul’ forum have installed the Ravers as firm favourites for the fixture. Such a view is both ill-considered and perilous for the Ravers.
Cambridge’s recent performances have shown a significant pick up in form: a narrow 32-36 loss against Nottingham, a one point 29-28 away defeat against Bedford Blues, and a 12-12 draw against full-time Doncaster Knights (which should have been a win but for a very late equalizing try by the Knights). Cambridge are only three wins and a couple of bonus points away from getting into the mix for the relegation playoffs. With their current form and a couple of favorable results, such an objective is both plausible and possible. They will be hugely determined to make a win against the Ravers the first chapter of their Great Escape.
Michael Barlow on the attack against Cambridge, National 1 2017/18
Callum Ridgway & JJ Dickinson against Cambridge, National 1 2017/18
Images thanks to Steve Flynn Photography
Throughout their time in the Champ the jeopardy of relegation has been an important driver for Caldy who have almost always been playing ‘up’ against better resourced and more experienced sides. Playing ‘down’ against a side six places below them in the table and being tagged as favourites is not something the Ravers are used to. As perennial underdogs the Ravers have a draw full of case studies where Caldy have surprisingly turned over supposed nailed on favourites such as Ealing, Bedford Blues, and Doncaster Knights. Tomorrow the boot is on the other foot and therein lies the peril for Caldy.
Intensity of performance is determined long before the opening whistle blows and this week Caldy’s coaching staff will have warned the players about the dangers of any conscious or subconscious complacency.
Caldy’s Head Coach Matt Cairns summed up the challenge that Caldy face at Ellgia Fields. “Every game in the Champ is tough and even more so when you are playing away from home against a side and a big crowd yearning for their first win to kick start their battle against automatic relegation. We just cannot afford to be anything other than physically and mentally urgent from the off. If they start well and gain momentum it will be increasingly difficult for us. Cambridge have a big, experienced pack of forwards and quality backs. It has taken time for their new squad and coaching team to fully gel, but they are much improved as their recent performances have shown. They will be fired up for sure. We will need to be at our absolute best for the full 80 minutes.”
The Caldy match day squad has some rotation in the starting xv but only a couple of changes in the overall squad, with last week’s expert match commentator and summarizer Matt Rabbette coming onto the bench along with Jacob Mitchell.
Image by Lewis Barker
Caldy’s Head Coach Matt Cairns has picked the following squad for tomorrow’s away fixture against Cambridge RFC at Ellgia Fields.
The match kicks off at 2.00pm.
1. Monty Weatherby
2. Ollie Hearn
3. Nathan Rushton
4. Max Loboda
5. Sam Olyott
6. Callum Ridgway
7. Jordan Jones
8. JJ Dickinson (c)
9. Ollie Wynn
10. Kieran Wilkinson
11. Will Robinson
12. Michael Barlow
13. Connor Wilkinson
14. Rhys Tudor
15. Charlie Hyde
Replacements : Joe Sproston, Matt Gallagher, Ryan Higginson,
Dan Owen, Matt Rabbette, Tom Akehurst, Lewis Barker, Jacob Mitchell
For those unable to travel to Cambridge tomorrow we will be live streaming this Champ Rugby game on TV in the clubhouse at Paton Field.
Caldy clubhouse Kitchen & Bars will be open from 1.00pm tomorrow.
Image by Francesca Rowley
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Saturday 7th February – NOWIRUL Barry Allen Memorial Cup
Caldy 2nd xv v Preston Grasshoppers 2nd xv kick off 2.00pm at Paton Field
Caldy 2nd xv squad for tomorrow’s Round 2 League Cup game ;
1. Jaco Oosthuyzen
2. Isaac Hardisty
3. Harry Evans
4. Orson O’Rorke
5. Jack Wilson (c)
6. Drew Davison
7. Luke Denn
8. Adam Boodhun
9. James Pickering
10. Gabe Mault
11. Dylan Carroll
12. Cam Brown
13. Eddie Banks
14. Lucas Wiggins
15. Fin McGrath
16. Adam Aigbokhae
17. Rory O’Connor
18. Tom Shanahan
19. Felix Clarke
20. Ben Leek
21. Matt Kilcourse
22. Mattie Sangare
23. Luke MacDonald
24. Paul Lewis
Please get yourself down to Paton Field tomorrow afternoon to support the Ravers !
Plus the 2026 Guinness Men’s Six Nations will be live on TV in the clubhouse tomorrow – see schedule below
Community Rugby – Sunday 8th February
This Sunday we have another set of local derbies, this time with Birkenhead Park, with the Minis at Home and the Juniors away. Good luck to our u13s and u16s who both have Cheshire Cup games away to New Brighton.
The Junior Colts are at home to Wirral kick off at 12:30pm, looking to bounce back after a loss to Chester last weekend. The Senior Colts have a much needed week off to patch up their injury list following a tight win over Whitchurch last Sunday.
u6s training at home
u7s, u8s, u9s, u10s, u11s at home v Birkenhead Park
u12s training at home
u13s Cheshire Cup away at New Brighton
u14s, u15s away at Birkenhead Park
u16s Cheshire Cup away at New Brighton
u14s, u16s, u18s Girls training at home
u17s Junior Colts home v Wirral kick off 12.30pm at Paton Field
u18s Senior Colts rest week
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Good luck to everyone & enjoy your rugby this weekend !
But please remember “No referees, No games” – disrespect or verbal abuse of rugby match officials is totally unacceptable & has no place in rugby.
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Rugby coming up in February
Saturday 14th February – Champ Rugby round 17
Caldy v Cornish Pirates kick off 2.00pm 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 14th February – NOWIRUL Premier League
Caldy 2nd xv v Preston Grasshoppers 2nd xv kick off 2.00pm at Paton Field
Saturday 21st February – Champ Rugby round 18
Worcester Warriors v Caldy kick off 12.00 noon at Sixways Stadium
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Events coming up at Paton Field
We’re delighted to invite you to a very special Sporting Lunch with snooker legend Dennis Taylor, taking place on Friday 13th February 2026 at Paton Field.
Join us for an entertaining afternoon of great food, lively conversation, and unforgettable stories from one of snooker’s most iconic figures. This promises to be a fantastic social event for sports fans and supporters alike.
Event details:
• Date: Friday 13th February 2026
• Time: 12:00pm start
• Venue: Paton Field
• Dress code: Smart casual
Please see the above flyer for full details. Spaces are limited, so booking ASAP is recommended.
To reserve your place or for any enquiries, please contact [email protected].
We very much hope you can join us for what promises to be a memorable afternoon.
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In celebration of John Butler’s 90th birthday we are hosting an Italian themed Dicky’s Dinner at the club to relax and socialise with fellow Ravers, while raising funds to help our Last of the Summer Wine improve and nurture our pitches and clubhouse.
You are invited to our next Dicky’s Dinner on Friday 20th February, arrive 7.00pm for 7.30pm sit down in the clubhouse.
The 3 course dinner will comprise:
Starter – Antipasti & Focaccia
Main – Lasagne with salad & garlic bread
Dessert – Tiramisu
( vegetarian option also available )
To reserve your dinner place / places please pay by bank transfer
£30 per head to:
Account name : SM&PP Dickinson
Sort code : 09-01-28
Account no : 48815348
Payment reference : DD + your surname
Any queries, or if you want to book a table of 10 (with names) please contact Pauline Dickinson :
email : [email protected]
mobile : 07971 827717
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Caldy RFC’s first-ever Armed Forces Day will be taking place on Saturday 11th April at Paton Field. This special day celebrates and supports our Armed Forces community, and we would love for you to be part of it. There will be Champ Rugby – Caldy v Hartpury, plus Div 3 West – Rav3rs v Crosby St Mary’s.
The day will be a joint fundraiser for Caldy RFC and our charity partner Walking With The Wounded (WWTW), a UK charity that supports veterans living with physical, mental, or social injuries, helping them regain purpose and independence.
We welcome bookings of any size into our ‘Mess Hall’, whether you’d like a table for family, friends, colleagues, or just a small group. It’s a great opportunity to enjoy a fantastic day at the club, support a worthy cause, and connect with the wider Caldy RFC community.
Don’t miss out – book your table today and be part of this special day !
Please contact Kenzie Allen :
email : [email protected]
mobile : 07940 233303
