Rugby Union: Caldy class too strong for fellow new boys

Sep 12 2007 by Colin Free, Liverpool Daily Post

WHEN Caldy made the early morning trip across the Pennines to Beaver Park, Beverley in National Three North, they knew they would be facing a stern test.

Promoted along with Caldy from North One last season, the Yorkshire men have a formidable home record, losing only once in the previous three seasons and were good enough to take the points in the corresponding encounter last season.

Caldy had started their 2007-8 campaign with a win and were still without a number of senior players due to injury – but on the day Caldy offered too much in most areas, scoring six tries that were equally shared between the forwards and the backs of Bradshaw, Mercer, Salisbury, Devaney and two for Matt Pennington.

Simon Mason was back to his best with the boot, producing a flawless display with a penalty and six conversions to complete a 45-20 win for the Wirral side.

It is still early in the season but, indicative of the competitive nature of this league, there are only three teams that have an unbeaten record.

By full-time this weekend this is likely to be reduced as Caldy f ace Tynedale at Paton Field.

The Northumberland team have racked up 66 points in their opening two games and are current league leaders.

Caldy are just behind them on points difference but level on league points having picked up the try-scoring bonus point on Saturday.

Tynedale were runners-up in National Three last year and will no doubt prove to be one of the best teams in the league this term.

An exciting clash is anticipated at Paton Field with the action starting at 3pm.

Elsewhere the Lions, having no league game, entertained Hutton at home where they ran out winners, but the third XV visited Wirral and they went down 41-10.

On Sunday in the North West Colts League the U19s Academy side opened their account with a 22-0 victory at home against Eccles.

Tries came from Andrew Stenhouse (2) and JJ Dickinson, with a penalty and conversion by Liam Cambridge and a conversion by Ali Greenfield.

A combination of injuries and early season unavailability left the U17s short handed and they went down 55-5.