Caldy put up a good fight (From Wirral Globe)

Caldy put up a good fight

2:48pm Tuesday 5th February 2013 in Rugby By Andrew Stratton

CALDY put in a determined performance at Stourbridge but could not quite match the National Two North League leaders and went under 14-30.

The visitors conceded a second minute try but hit back via a Matt Van Sertima touch down and a Richard Vasey conversion to lead 7-5 at the half way stage.

Stourbridge virtually put the game to bed with a strong third quarter which realised three tries, two conversions and a brace of penalties but Caldy had the last say with Gavin Roberts crossing and Vasey adding the extras.

Birkenhead Park did not play but Wirral maintained their good form in North One West as they they despatched Value of Lune 17-12 to keep sixth place in the division.

The win was not without cost with three players suffering injury likely to sideline them for several weeks.

Tries from Sam Broadbent and Dan Harvey plus a Craig Harvey conversion gave the home side a 12-5 interval lead.

It was stretched to 17-5 when Broadbent crossed again but Vale had the last say with a 78th minute converted try to add to a first period touch down.

Hoylake were out of sorts at Glossop in South Lancashire/Cheshire One and managed just a couple of kicks in a 6-31 reverse.

Wallasey won again in Division Two 32-10 at home to Moore but Oldershaw could not open their account at Oswestry where it finished 0-22 to the home side.

Prenton took top spot in Division Three as they crushed visiting Liverpool University 56-3.

There were also handsome victories for Oxton Parkonians 51-0 over Holmes Chapel at Holm Lane and Ellesmere Port 66-0 against Helsby at Whitby.

Anselmians and Port Sunlight were others without a fixture on what was originally a league-free Saturday for the majority of clubs in view of the internationals but New Brighton fulfilled an Intermediate Cup clash with Upper Eden at Hartsfield and took a step towards a possible Twickenham final date with a 25-3 success.

The Blues built up a 17-3 lead thanks to touch downs from Damien Cook, Vinnie Dutton and Joe Silcock plus a Luke Thompson goal.

The visitors managed just a penalty up to the break. Brighton made the game safe with a second-half penalty by Silcock and a fourth try via Kati Tuipulotu.

It was a positive display by the Hartsfield outfit after a three weeks break due to the weather and augurs well for the weeks ahead.

Caldy face an interesting away clash against Cheshire rivals Stockport this Saturday whilst Birkenhead Park are due at Billingham.

Wirral journey to Fleetwood and Anselmians face a big hurdle in a cross river derby against league leaders LSH at Malone Field.

Lower down the scale fixtures include Hoylake v Bowdon, New Brighton at Ruskin Park, Wallasey v Southport, Oldershaw at Douglas, Ellesmere Port v Knutsford and a Prenton v Oxton Parkonians derby. Port Sunlight again do not play this weekend.

Rugby suffered a big loss last week with the sudden death of Andrew Maxwell who was one of the best players produced by Calday Grange Grammar School.

Andy played for Old Caldeians and New Brighton and at county level for Cheshire before moving to live in Yorkshire and link up with Headingley.

He made seven appearances in all for England but in his final International outing against France in 1978 sustained serious injury which sadly cut short his playing career.

He made his international debut on tour to Australia in 1975 and the shirt he wore for that match is still on display in the Caldy clubhouse.