Caldy set for students test

Sep 6 2008 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

CALDY will face something of an unknown quantity when they take on Loughborough Students today in their opening match in National Three North.

The Students were promoted from Midlands One at the end of last season and their term has not yet started. Undoubtedly they will have undergone some preparations but it is unlikely to have matched that of the Wirral club and they may need time to settle.

Cald,y who have gained some players and lost others, are confident they can build on last season’s fifth place finish in their first venture on to the national scene and it could be very important with probable re-structuring of the leagues for 2009-10.

They beat Blaydon and lost to Waterloo in their main warm-up matches. Lock Richard Bradshaw is missing today as he recovers from an operation and there are slight doubts over forwards Paul White and vice-captain Sam Dickinson among others.

New men Jon Sewell, Ian Critchley, Dave Westhead, Andy Soutar and Mark Turner are all in contention along with Ben MacPherson, who is back after spending time abroad which cost him much of last season.

Soutar looks set to take the place-kicking duties with Simon Mason now in charge at Anselmians.

TODAY (3pm): National Two: Waterloo v Blaydon (2.30). National Three North: Loughborough Students v Caldy. Club games: Birkenhead Park v Lymm, Whitchurch v New Brighton, Parkonians v Helsby.