Rugby Union: Caldy 22, Fylde 7

Jan 21 2008 by Andrew Stratton, Liverpool Daily Post

THE TRUSTY boot of full-back Simon Mason helped Caldy to their seventh National Three North success.

It was a bruising contest on a dank afternoon at Paton Field and scoring chances were few as both sides showed their defensive qualities.

There was hardly a sign of a try until suddenly two came in two minutes in the final quarter as tiredness crept in.

Caldy competed well with a solid Fylde pack and looked dangerous on occasions in the back division on a day hardly ideal for open rugby.

Former England captain Bill Beaumont turned up to run the rule over his son Sam Beaumont in the Fylde back-row, but it was the Caldy back-row trio of Jake Lyon, Matt Leeming and Sam Dickinson who took the eye – although there were plenty of other players who made their presence felt.

Craig Aikman was excellent at scrum-half for the visitors but not a lot went right for them on the day with the majority of decisions favouring Caldy.

Mason struck with a fourth minute penalty and doubled the advantage on 25 minutes when Fylde were adjudged offside.

John Armstrong was just wide with his only penalty kick at goal for Fylde on 32 minutes and three minutes later Mason showed him how to do it to make it 9-0 at the break.

There was no scoring in the third quarter after which Fylde sent on three replacements only to immediately be reduced to 14 men with lock Nick King dispatched to the sin bin.

Mason duly capitalised on his indiscretion for penalty number four.

Caldy could not make their numerical supremacy tell but as soon as Fylde were back to their full complement the home side gained their only try through Ben Lyon after a link with Richard Bradshaw following an excellent forward drive. Mason converted.

Straight from the re-start Fylde kicked through for Oliver Brennand to get the touchdown, with Armstrong converting.

But Caldy had the last say on the day with a fifth Mason penalty in added time.

They now sit ninth in the table with a 13 -point safety margin over the three relegation places.

In South Lancashire/Cheshire Division Three Eagle lost -27-10 in the Isle of Man to leaders Douglas.

Division Four scores included an 8-0 win for Port Sunlight over Merseyside Police while Capenhurst went down to St Mary’s 18-8.

In North Lancs One Birchfield were edged out 16-15 by Heaton Moor.