CALDY kicked off their 2014 campaign with a five try bonus point earning show at Paton Field.

It realised an eighth win of the season in National Two North League by a 31-18 margin over Leicester Lions.

The visitors had their bright moments but failed to breach the Caldy rearguard with all their points coming via penalties.

A Jonathon Boden kick for the Lions was the only score in the opening quarter but on 23 minutes steady Caldy pressure was rewarded with a Stuart Cross touch down.

Three penalties in seven minutes by Boden made it 5-12 but in the last move of the first half Matt Lowes powered over for the home side with the conversion by Richard Vasey levelling things out at 12-12.

Matt Van Sertima secured the third Caldy touch down three minutes after the re-start following good build up play after they took a line against the throw but another Boden penalty made it 17-15 on 52 minutes.

Caldy took full advantage of a Lions yellow card with Christian Jones touching down as the pack drove over from a line-out. Vasey added the goal but it was game on again as Boden landed his sixth kick for Leicester.

Any chance of a Lions success however ended on 72 minutes when full-back Andy Soutar appeared on the scene for try number five and the extras were claimed by Vasey after a twice taken kick.

There will be tougher games ahead for Caldy but they will be well pleased with his latest performance which saw them step over their opponents and others into eighth position in the table.

Wirral are two points clear at the top of North One West after a 49-14 victory over cross river rivals LSH.

They had the worst possible start as they conceded a second minute converted interception try but were soon in control to lead 27-7 at the half way stage thanks to a brace of touch downs from Alistair Baker, another from Sam Broadbent and a penalty try. James Annetts added two of the conversions and also a penalty.

A second converted score gave LSH hope soon after the break but Wirral were quick to assume control again.

Phil Donaldson raced clear from an interception and others to cross were Colin Dyer and Sam Edgar.

Broadbent kept the scoreboard ticking with another penalty and two goals and all in all it was a terrific performance.

Birkenhead Park remain their nearest rivals two points adrift. They were taken all the way by Kirby Lonsdale before scraping home 17-15 at the Upper Park.

Dave Hall kicked a 20th minute penalty for Park to cancel out an earlier kick by Lonsdale but the visitors took advantage of a home sin binning for a converted try in the second quarter.

A strong finish by Park to the opening half saw Dave Morgan put Hall in for an unconverted corner try before a brace of penalties by Hall made it 14-10 in th e third quarter.

It seemed Park had finally got the measure of hard working opposition but out of the blue the Lancashire outfit registered a 69 minute try to lead again before Hall saved the home blushes with a match winning kick five minutes from no side.

But they cannot afford another lack lustre show if they are to maintain their promotion push.

Runaway South Lancashire/Cheshire One leaders New Brighton returned to winning ways as they despatched Ruskin Park 39-0 at Hartsfield.

There was a six try show by the Blues with three of them credited to centre Vinnie Dutton.

Alex Pope, Jack Charlesworth and Joe Silcock also got in on the act. Anthony Birley hit a penalty and a conversion and Charlesworth two conversions.

It took the local side just a minute to open their account and it was 20-0 by the interval.

They soon ensured the bonus point in the second period and now have a commanding fourteen points lead over their nearest rivals.

There were defeats for Hoylake 8-13 against Sefton at Melrose Avenue and Anselmians 18-36 at West Park.

Port Sunlight comfortably took the Division Two derby against Wallasey 51-0 leaving the Cross Lane side still without a win this season.

Prenton in Division Three came away 34-10 to the good from Linley whilst Oldershaw registered a convincing 52-0 triumph.

There was defeat for Oxton Parkonians however 0-26 away to Buxton.

Caldy face a difficult away engagement against high riding Stourbridge this Saturday.

Wirral and Birkenhead Park are also on the road to Broughton Park and Leigh respectively.

Anselmians welcome Winnington Park with away fixtures for Hoylake at Douglas, Isle of Man and New Brighton at Tyldesley.

Other matches include Port Sunlight at Oswestry, Wallasey v Ramsey, Isle of Man, Ellesmere Port v Helsby and Prenton v Liverpool University.