Caldy hop to it and turn on style against Grasshoppers

Feb 13 2008 by Our Correspondent, Birkenhead News

CALDY turned on the style to register a crushing 25-58 victory over Preston Grasshoppers in National Three North.

Sean Woof and Craig Ross registered tries inside 10 minutes and Marcus Coast, who took the kicking duties in the absence of Simon Mason, added one conversion.

Woof went in for a second time and Coast added the goal and a penalty. Hoppers kept in touch with a Mike Jones try and the conversion and two penalties via Gerard Boshoff before the interval.

There was a penalty try following a kick through by Ross and further touch downs from Wylie (2), Holt, Dickinson and Woods. Coast landed three conversions and a penalty. Preston got a two more tries.

Meanwhile, a brave effort by New Brighton failed to bring any reward at second placed Stockport, as their outside play-off hopes in North Two West League suffered a telling blow following a 29-17 defeat.

A poor first-half display really put paid to the Brighton chances. Stockport ran them ragged behind the scrum for five tries and two conversions.

Paul Campbell pulled a try back for Brighton with Gareth Jones converting and they went on to take the second period 10-0 thanks to a penalty try and the goal plus a penalty by Jones.

But the Blues missed too many regulars although there were sound displays from Jones at full-back and Kati Tuipulotu and John Brotherton.

Brighton are now eight points behind leaders Chester. Leigh played well to account for Rochdale 26-13.

Elsewhere, Birkenhead Park fell to their second successive North One League home defeat courtesy of a 0-8 thrashing from Altrincham Kersal.

The result was a big bonus for relegation-threatened Altrincham Kersal in a dour encounter, while Park were once again without key players.

Making matters worse for Birkenhead was the dismissal of lock forward David Blythe in the second-half during a melee. He seemed to be the one signalled out in a free-for-all.

But generally it was a below-par show by Park, who battered away at the visitors line to no avail for long periods.

Altrincham started well but the home side contained the pressure. The only first-half score was a penalty on 20 minutes via Sean Rogers.

Park lost leading try scorer Christian Jones through injury, while the visitors made sure with an unconverted try from Wayne Morris during a late break out.

Wirral came close to lowering the colours of South Lancashire/Cheshire One leaders Wilmslow during their 22-19 defeat.

They missed crucial second-half penalties and failed from several try scoring chances. White (2) and Davies crossed for Wirral with Harvey converting. Wilmslow won with three tries, a penalty and two conversions.

Steve Young did his best for Hoylake during their 10-17 defeat in the South Lancashire/Cheshire One with a try, conversion and penalty.

But third-placed Wigan did just enough. Mike Millward and Mike Rigby went in and Andy Whittle struck both goals and a penalty.

Despite Ormskirk being in front for nearly the entire game, Wallasey managed to salvage a 20-20 draw after a conversion kick from the touchline prevented the West Lancashire side from taking two league points.