Wirral rugby season set to start (From Wirral Globe)

Wirral rugby season set to start

11:21am Wednesday 29th August 2012 in Rugby By Andrew Stratton

THE new rugby union league season gets under way this Saturday.

Caldy, who so narrowly missed out on promotion last season, begin with an away clash against Huddersfield in National Two North.

Birkenhead Park are on the road to West Hartlepool in National Three North for a difficult opening encounter. There are also away trips in North One West for Wirral at Kirby Lonsdale and Anselmians at Wilmslow.

South Lancashire/Cheshire One fixtures include Hoylake v Orrell and New Brighton In Division Two Oldershaw entertain Isle of Man outfit Vagabonds and Wallasey journey to Marple. Division Three games include Helsby v Prenton, Holmes Chapel v Port Sunlight and Knutsford v Oxton Parkonians.

Hoylake will stage the grand opening of their new clubhouse at Melrose Avenue ahead of the Orrell match. The event starts at 1.30pm. There will be some celebrities in attendance and Hoylake will also give a hearty welcome to members past and present.

Some local clubs were engaged in Cheshire competitions during the Bank Holiday weekend. Birkenhead Park beat a Macclesfield XV 32-27 at Priory Park to book a place in the Cup semi-finals.

They lived dangerously after letting a 26-6 interval advantage come down to 27-29 before a Tony Handley drop goal eased the pressure. Adam Cupples (2), Tom Cassidy and Greg Hughes scored Park tries with Dan Rich converting three and striking a penalty.

Caldy also moved into the last four but were given a fright by a vastly improved Sandbach before getting home 33-28 at Paton Field on Sunday.

There was no joy for New Brighton in their Vase clash at Wilmslow. They managed a converted try in a 7-35 reverse.