Victory for Caldy (From Wirral Globe)

Victory for Caldy

3:38pm Monday 11th March 2013 in Sport By Andrew Stratton

CALDY came out on top 19-9 against Sheffield Tigers in their latest National Two North League match at Paton Field.

It was a defence-dominated affair with just one try by Christian Jones for Caldy in the 35th minute.

Richard Vasey converted after kicking an earlier penalty but two kicks by the Tigers made it 10-6 at the interval.

A third Sheffield kick after the re-start left the result in the balance at 10-9 but Caldy held their nerve and three strikes by Vasey in the last quarter ensued victory and eighth place in the division. Prop Derek Salisbury was voted Caldy's star player on the day.

Birkenhead Park fought bravely in difficult conditions against promotion chasing Harrogate at the Upper Park in National Three North before losing 10-24.

A Stu Brown try plus the conversion and a penalty by Dave Hall gave Park a 10-0 advantage but Harrogate gradually warmed to their task to post an important success to stay second in the table. Park remain third bottom.

Wirral in North One West suffered their first defeat of the year 20-22 at home to Wilmslow.

Craig Harvey and Rob Pearl touched down with the former adding both conversions and a brace of penalties but the East Cheshire outfit just edged the verdict to leave Wirral fifth in the table.

Relegation-threatened Anselmians struggled to get a side for the trip to Carlisle after a number of late cry-offs and were on the back foot for much of the time before losing 52-0.

New Brighton posted a hard earned 12-8 success at home to Glossop in South Lancashire/Cheshire One and still have hopes of a third place finish.

It was not so good for Hoylake who went under 10-21 at Ashton-on-Mersey.

Neither Wallasey nor Oldershaw could open their account in Division Two.

Wallasey lost 0-8 at home to Oswestry and Oldershaw 0-7 against visiting Collegiate. Oldershaw, second bottom, are now in real danger of demotion.

Port Sunlight won 54-21 against Capenhurst to keep hopes alive of the Division Three title.

There were also wins for Prenton 15-10 at home to Trentham and Oxton Parkonians 31-5 against Congleton but Ellesmere Port were edged out 18-24 by league leaders Manchester Medics.

Sedburgh School retained the Bowring Trophy when the 25th annual Kukri North of England Schools Sevens Tournament was completed at Birkenhead Park.

In a rather one-sided final they thrashed Wilmslow High 42-0.

Grounds at Birkenhead School and St Anselms College were also used for the competition.

None of the Merseyside or Wirral schools qualified for the quarter finals of the main event but Wirral Grammar School reached the final of the Boodle and Dunthorne Plate only to lose out to Trent College 7-24.

Sherbourne School and Ysgol Gwfun Gwyr (Swansea) were the guests sides this year with other newcomers to the event being Solihull and Queen Elizabeth, Kirby Lonsdale.

It was an excellent 25th anniversary with perfect conditions inducing some thrilling competition.

Results:

Bowring Trophy quarter-finals: Sedburgh 34, Durham 12; Kings Worcester 17, Ellesmere 7; Woodhouse Grove (Bradford) 19, Sherburne 12; Wilmslow High 26, Kings Macclesfield 17.

Semi-finals: Sedburgh 21, Kings Worcester 10; Wilmslow High 21, Woodhouse Grove 14.

Final: Sedburgh 42, Wilmslow High 0.

Boodle and Dunthorne Plate quarter-finals: Trent College 24, Denstone 12; RGS Newcastle 14, Birkenhead School 7; Adams GS 19, Barnard Castle 7; Wirral 20, Merchant Taylors 10.

Semi-finals: Trent 38, RGS Newcastle 14; Wirral 26, Adams 24,
Final: Trent 24, Wirral 7.

Caldy have Otley as visitors in National Two North this Saturday whilst re-arranged league matches include Birkenhead Park v Sandal, a Wirral v Anselmians derby, New Brighton at Crewe and Nantwich, Ellesmere Port v Capenhurst, Oxton Parkonians at Linley and Prenton v Knutsford.