Defeat for Caldy in National North League (From Wirral Globe)

Defeat for Caldy in National North League

2:05pm Monday 22nd October 2012 in Rugby By Andrew Stratton

IT was not a happy trip to the Midlands for Caldy as they suffered a 13-39 reverse at the hands of Leicester Lions in National Two North League.

Forward power had a major say early on as Caldy conceded two penalty tries and they trailed 6-29 at the end of the opening period.

The Wirral side battled bravely later to secure a Gavin Roberts try. Richard Vasey added the goal after landing a penalty and a drop goal up to the break.
     
The Lions scored six tries in all plus three conversions and a penalty for a merited success.   
      
Birkenhead Park still await their first win in National Three North League. They were on the wrong side of a 24-3 scoreline at Burnage in a dogged encounter.
     
Park scored first via a Dave Hall penalty but slipped to 3-16 by the interval. Burnage managed the only score in the second period in a mainly defence dominated affair.
     
Anselmians took charge in the second period to see off visiting Fleetwood 37-15 in North One West. Simon Mason played a key role with six penalties and a brace of conversions.
     
John Close, Rob Campbell and Loa Topou touched down for the Wirral outfit who led 19-15 at the half way stage.
     
Wirral with a much changed side battled bravely at Carlisle but eventually went under 13-20. They were ahead 13-3 at the break but having a man in the sin bin in the second period proved costly.
     
Two converted tries and a penalty to add to a first-half penalty assured Carlisle of the win points but Wirral managed a bonus thanks to a Dan Harvey touch down and the conversion and a brace of penalties via Craig Harvey.
     
New Brighton played out a tense 25-25 draw at Tyldesley in South Lancashire/Cheshire One.It could have been worse for the Blues as Tyldesley missed a simple late penalty chance and also failed with a drop goal attempt.
     
George Sale, Joe Cardus and Ned Brooks crossed for the Blues and Joe Silcock was on target with two of the conversions and a couple of penalties..
    
It was also close for Hoylake as they just pipped West Park 8-6 in a defence dominated clash at Melrose Avenue which produced just one try.
      
It was not a good day for the two local sides in Division Two. Oldershaw failed 24-40 at Moore and Wallasey were sunk 17-59 by Sefton in a cross river clash at Cross Lane.
     
Prenton took the Division Three derby against Port Sunlight 22-13. Ellesmere Port thrashed visiting Linley 35-0 but Oxton Parkonians despite an improved performance were beaten 19-31 at Trentham. 
     
Craig Whelan, Terry Williams and Mike Byrne went in for tries for Parks and Williams was successful with two of the conversions.
     
It is the last of the 3pm kick-offs for matches this weekend. Caldy have Darlington Mowden Park as visitors and Birkenhead Park welcome Kendal.
     
Wirral are at home to Altrincham Kersal with Anselmians on the road to Kirby Lonsdale.
     
Lower down the scale fixtures include Hoylake at Wigan, New Brighton v Warrington, Oldershaw v Marple, Wallasey at Buxton, Ellesmere Port at Liverpool University, Parkonians v Capenhurst and Port Sunlight v Trentham.
     
New Brighton have a Past Players Re-Union ahead of their encounter.
     
Prenton do not have a league game this Saturday.