Murray’s double sees Caldy grind out Park

Nov 14 2007 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

THE ability to secure, nay, grind out a win is of paramount importance sometimes and so it was for this National 3 North derby game at Paton Field between as Caldy edged victory 18-13 against West Park St Helens.

It was a game that will not live long in the memory, unless you are Caldy winger Ian Murray who scored two good tries for the home side both coming within a two minutes of the start of each half.

Andrew Soutar came back with two penalty kicks in the first period to leave the score 7-6 at the interval.

Caldy’s second try in the opening minutes of the second half was probably the highlight of the day as scrum-half Karl Porsche fizzed the ball wide from left to right and through the backs hands for Murray to score his second.

Simon Mason chipped in with two penalties to add to his earlier conversion as the score was extended to 18-6 before scrum-half Darren Wilson jinked in to give a lifeline to the visitors.

There was to be not be finale in this one and doubtless both sides will produce better rugby on other days but the converted try did crucially secure the additional point for West Park.

Given results elsewhere it was a valuable win that takes Caldy above West Park in the table and into 10th place.

Next weekend Caldy make the trip to Morley in round two of the EDF Energy National Trophy. Caldy are currently the only side providing local interest in this competition after West Park St Helens, Liverpool St Helens & New Brighton all crashed out. This is only Caldy’s second game in the National Trophy but with National 1 and 2 sides not in the initial rounds it is an opportunity to take a look at a National 3 North side that Caldy are yet to play this season.

Caldy second team travel to Vale of Lune in Lancaster this weekend having suffered a reversal by 21-17 away at Stockport.

Injuries have taken their toll in recent weeks leaving both the third team and the U19s with depleted teams both going down at home last weekend to Crewe & Nantwich and Sandbach respectively.

The U17s Academy side did however, manage to rise above their own injury problems to secure a memorable win by 30-29 away at Birkenhead Park to take them one point above the Upper Park team in the North West Colts League A.