CALDY made it six wins from their last seven outings in National Two North League as they overcame Preston Grasshoppers 10-0 at Paton Field.

It was a real dogfight for the full 80 minutes.

Undoubtedly, it was the poorest match so far this season at the ground but it was nobody's fault. The two sides virtually cancelled each other out with defences holding the upper hand.

The forwards obviously bore the brunt of the work with both back divisions making precious little headway.

The only try came in the 14th minute with the home pack driving over from a line-out for a simple touch down by Neil Dowridge. Andy Soutar added the extras.

The rest of the opening half was mediocre and then it was down to the home side to weather a tremendous Hoppers onslaught in the third quarter.

When Caldy did finally make ground upfield they were handed a penalty and this time Gavin Roberts landed the kick.

From then on it was just a matter as to whether Preston could do enough to claim a losing bonus point. The fact they did was mainly down to their own errors and also some spirited play by Caldy.

To be fair few were sorry when the final whistle souded.

Wirral lost for the third game in a row in National Three North but will be wondering how it all went wrong against Cleckheaton at Clatterbridge.

The local side was 22-0 to the good at one stage but Cleckheaton hit them with a four try rally to edge the verdict 27-25.

Adam Sheldon was credited with two Wirral tries and Craitg Harvey also crossed. James Annetts landed two conversions and a penalty.

Then the Cleckheaton fight back began and they eventually went ahead 24-22.

Annetts struck another penalty to make it 25-24 but the visitor had the last say with a crucial goal kick.

It was doom and gloom in the home camp with a match they should have won slipping away amidst claims the crucial decisions had gone against them.

Birkenhead Park will go into the new year top of North One West after a comfortable bonus point 31-5 success away to Carlisle.

Jack Ashcroft set the scene as he pounced on a Carlisle mistake for a first minute try converted by Dave Hall.

Lawrence Thomas was next to cross in the second quarter with Hall adding the extras and then a penalty.

A Carlisle touch down after the break served to liven up the visitors and two tries via Rob Doolan plus both conversions made the points secure.

New Brighton enjoyed a welcome 23-7 win against visiting Bolton but are third bottom.

They were just behind at the break but took control in the second period. Stephen Dean, Phil Gazzola and evergreen Kati Tuipuloto breached the Bolton defence and Joe Silock hit two penalties and a conversion.

The Blues are confident they will climb the table n 2015.

Hoylake managed just one kick as they fell 3-20 at home to Glossop in South Lancashre/Cheshire One.

The Ruskin Park v Anselmians game was called off.

There were narrow defeats for both local sides in Division Two. Port Sunlight finished 15-19 against Ormskirk and Prenton 21-23 against Moore.

Wallasey were again in sound form as they accounted for Linley 30-17 at Cross Lane in Division Three. Oldershaw crushed Helsby 93-0 and Ellesmere Port went away 39-22 winners from Oxton Parkonians.

Nearly all the local clubs now have a break from league rugby until the new year but there will be some action.

A Birkenhead Park XV will take on Old Birkonian on Saturday December 27 in the traditional festive time get together at the Uper Park. The kick-off is 3pm.

Caldy have two engagements. They face an interesting Cheshire derby at Chester this Saturday and then play again on Sunday December 28 with Sandbach providing the opposition at Paton Field in the seme-final of the Cheshire Cup.

This tie will have a 2.15pm kick-off and be preceded by an Under 24 curtain raiser begining at noon.

Caldy came out 21-15 to the good in the first match against Chester and it should be close again.

Both clubs have won ten times and lost five and just two points seperate them in the table with Chester third and Caldy fourth.

Chester seem to have lost their way a little after an upheaval which saw their head coach depart a couple of weeks ago.