CALDY slipped to their third successive defeat with an 18-14 loss away to Stockport despite an excellent second half performance that arguably warranted more than they got.

Caldy did not arrive at the ground until 1.40pm due to a crash on the M56 that meant that it took two and a half hours to travel to the game and they paid for their poor preparation in the first half, going in at half time with a 15-0 deficit with Stockport having the upper hand in the set piece and in the open.

Stockport scored two tries through Paul Ralph and fly half Joshua Longmore who also kicked a conversion and a penalty.

Caldy rallied towards the end of the first half and could have kicked a penalty to get them within 12 but instead chose to take the lineout and were turned over by Stockport.

After the break there was only one side in the game with Stockport rarely having control of the ball and Caldy dominating in all aspects of the game. After only three minutes of the second half, back rower Harry Broadbent wriggled his way over the whitewash and Andrew Soutar kicked the extras.

Four minutes later, Caldy had reduced the deficit to one as lock Nick King powered his way over the line from close range and Soutar kicked another conversion. On 51 minutes, a dangerous tackle was left unpunished and a minute later Stockport were awarded a penalty themselves from long range which Longmore kicked perfectly to stretch the Stockport lead back to four.

Caldy spent the remainder of the half camped in the Stockport half but some good scrambling defence by the home side held them at bay.

In the last five minutes, Neil Dowridge believed he had touched down for Caldy but the referee said that it had been held up and despite Stockport conceding at least four penalties on the five meter line the home side were left unpunished.