Last week’s bonus point 31-12 victory away at Otley brought Caldy their 20th consecutive win since the start of the season but this weekend they face their biggest challenge yet when third placed North Manchester side Sedgley Tigers come to Paton Field.

Sedgley Tigers are one of the biggest sides in National 2 North and they have been close to securing promotion back to National 1 ever since their relegation at the end of the 2012/13 season. In the subsequent seasons Sedgley have never finished lower than fourth in National 2 North.

Sedgley currently sit some 21 league points behind Caldy but in February the Wirral side plays the Tigers home and away and also faces second placed Fylde at their Woodlands ground.

Caldy will be wary of the power of their side which is expected to include former Caldy prop Nathan Rushton.

This top of the table clash will be the first time the sides have met since April 2017. In that season other than the two fixtures against Sedgley, Caldy swept all before them on their way to the league title.

Sedgley won home and away against the Wirral side, with narrow victories over Caldy in the first and last games of the season. The final fixture between the sides at Paton Field was memorable for the intervention of a large goose that interrupted the play and the players with attempted mid field tackles!

Caldy’s Head Coach Matt Cairns believes that February is pivotal for the club.
He said: “Although we have been going well, February could change everything. Fylde, Sedge and Hinckley are all very much in the mix with us.

"Sedge play us at Paton Field and again at their Park Lane ground in a couple of weeks’ time.”
This Merseyside v Manchester clash is now very much Caldy’s biggest game of the season and the Wirral side will be looking for a big crowd to support them in their quest for a 21st consecutive victory.

The game against Sedgley Tigers kicks off at Caldy’s Paton Field at 2.15 p.m. on Saturday February 8.