Loughborough Students 53, Caldy 19  

CALDY came away battered and bruised after being put to the sword allowing the morning's bottom side Loughborough to come away with the biggest victory of the season putting the Ravers just five points above the National 1 relegation zone.

Caldy were missing a number of key players including Nyle Davidson and Rhys Hayes who joined long term injury casualty Harrison Crowe on the sidelines.

However, they came up against a spirited Students side who started their centenary year with an impressive six-try victory.

It was Caldy who came out of the blocks firing with a brace of tries from Derek Salisbury scoring twice in the first ten minutes to give the visitors a 12-3 lead.

However, the lead was short lived as students ran in three tries of their own in the next 10 minutes to the delight of the home supporters who saw their team gain the four try bonus point before half time.

Caldy were first to trouble the scorers in the second half through a try from Martin Gerrard, but all thoughts of a comeback were soon quelled when Austin Beckett ran in to complete his hat trick on 52 minutes.

The game became tight in the next quarter of the match with Caldy pressing for a bonus point try of their own, but as they attacked gaps opened up at the back allowing Students to run in two more tries before the final whistle to complete only their fourth win of the season.

Caldy will dust themselves down to go again in this Saturday's home match against Chinnor looking to improve on two wins in 10 games. Kick off at Paton Field is 2pm.

There was more disappointment for Caldy's 2nd XV who lost heavily away at second placed Chester to take the race for top spot to next week's final game before the league splits at the end of January.