Calday Grange set for a grand trip of a lifetime

Mar 19 2008 by Ron Roby, Liverpool Daily Post

CALDAY Grange Grammar School under-15s have reached the final of the prestigious Daily Mail Vase competition with a hard-earned victory by 19-12 over a powerful KCS Wimbledon side at Broadstreet in Coventry.

The win has set the Wirral lads up for a trip of a lifetime to play on the hallowed turf of Twickenham in front of a large home following.

The occasion will be the first time the school has reached such a final and they will face Langley Park Boys with an 11am kick-off on Wednesday, April 2.

“The school is a buzz with pride and excitement,” spokesman Tim Sinnott said. “Students are planning ways of getting down to Twickers to support their mates and we are organising a coach to take some supporters down on the day.”

Headteacher Andrew Hall added: “Coach Paul Miller and his assistant, and parent John Sparke, have created a unique blueprint for success.”

The success against Wimbledon came on the back of a long and hard season with the side losing only once.

They beat Birkdale (Sheffield), Bramhall, the Grange (Hartford), Stockport GS, King’s Macclesfield and Kirbie Kendal on their way to the semi-finals.

The squad are out in Italy on a tour which had to be delayed because of their Cup success and they flew out on Monday to their training camp.

Against Wimbledon the side had to dig deep with the Londoners having a huge pack and only some gallant defence kept the opposition at bay throughout the afternoon.

Fly-half Alex Eagles kicked shrewdly despite a tricky wind and with some strong running from the Calday backline they scored three excellent tries through skipper Ben Sparke and wingers Jake Collins and Matt Ross.

The team selected to turn out at Twickenham are expected to be in a strip sponsored by one of its own players, James Lynch.

He has shown great initiative by setting up his own company (James Elliott Motors) when he was just 12-years-old.

His short but enterprising career has to date allowed him to buy and sell over 60 cars and some of his profits have been used to buy shirts for the team.

Meanwhile, Liverpool Collegiate U15s have reached the Blacksticks Blue Junior Challenge Cup final after beating West Park 24-12.

Collegiate’s points came from two tries from James Hall (St Margarets) a couple from Joe Walsh (St Edwards) and two conversions from Tom Chadwick (Liverpool College).

Collegiate U15s also beat Aldwinians 5-0 away from home.

West Park U7/8s worked hard for victory, beating Aldwinians 16-6 with Tom Speight top scorer.

At U9 level West Park drew with Aldwinians with Tom Wadsworth top scorer with three tries. Adam Woosey also got two.

West Park and Aldwinians U13s had a nail-biting contest with Park narrowly edging ahead to win 20-18.

The sides were locked at 10 -10 before Dominic Basley pounced on a mistake to grab the vital touchdown.