Caldy lift Cheshire Cup with comfortable victory (From Wirral Globe)

Caldy lift Cheshire Cup with comfortable victory

1:19pm Tuesday 10th April 2012 in Rugby By Andrew Stratton

CALDY completed the formality of lifting the Cheshire Cup with a 28-0 final victory over Northwich at New Brighton's Hartsfield ground on Easter Saturday.

The East Cheshire side put up a spirited show but Caldy to be fair hardly needed to get out of second gear to triumph.

It was their first outright success in the competition since 1971. Last season they shared the trophy with Sale Sharks.

Caldy were able to give a chance to some of their fringe players and rang the changes in the second period when the game was safe.

Northwich, two leagues below Caldy, looked lightweight but they never threw in the towel and enjoyed their moments of pressure without being able to turn it into points.

Caldy could have increased their score with easy penalty opportunities but instead chose a different option to look for points.

James Smith with a quickly taken tap penalty opened the scoring for Caldy in the 19th minute with Andy Soutar converting.

Northwich at this stage had a man in the sin bin and before his return Caldy punished them again as Derek Salisbury powered over in the 24th minute with Soutar again adding the extras.

Northwich exerted some pressure without reward in the third quarter when Caldy had a man serving time and the Wirral outfit went on to register a third try through Ben Eaves after a strong attacking move on 68 minutes with Soutar’s conversion taking the score to 21-0.

Sub J.J.Dickinson completed the day as he shrugged off several tackles for the last touch down in the 80th minute with the conversion making it 28-0. Prenton were unable to get their name on the Cheshire Plate for the first time as they lost a close contest against Southern Nomads 13-18 in a final which preceded the main cup.

Jake Downey scored the only Prenton try converted by Daryl Parker who also registered a brace of penalties.

The Isle of Man side gained two touch downs plus a conversion and two penalties.

All the other local sides had a free weekend but it is back to full league action this Saturday.

Caldy have an important date at lowly Harrogate in National Two North.

Birkenhead Park go to Penrith in National Three North whilst North One West fixtures include Wirral at Leigh and Anselmians at home to Rochdale in a must win situation.

Lower down the scale matches include New Brighton at Bowdon, Hoylake v Sale, Ellesmere Port v Vagabonds, Oldershaw at Southport, Prenton at Buxton, Port Sunlight at Capenhurst, Parkonians at Congleton and Wallasey at Holmes Chapel as the league programme heads towards a finish.