Caldy lose more ground to Nuneaton in chase for the title

Mar 4 2009 by Our Correspondent, Birkenhead News

CALDY’S hopes of catching Nuneaton at the top of National League Three North took another blow with a single-point defeat at Fylde.

In a match that was nip and tuck throughout with handling errors from both sides, Caldy’s fate was sealed when Fylde scored from an overthrown line-out late on to move eight points ahead – a gap that was too much to recover from.

They started well, with Gavin Roberts being called back for a forward pass when he seemed certain to score.

After 14 minutes, Caldy were trying to break again when a similar flowing move from the backs came to an abrupt end as On 14 minutes Oliver Brennand, the league’s leading try scorer, intuitively stepped into the Caldy line to intercept Buck’s pass and race under the posts. Steve Nutt converted.

Caldy hit back with two Roberts’ penalties – the second after his own searing break was stopped illegally by the Fylde full-back, which many observers felt was worthy of a yellow card.

Tom Albinson stretched Fylde’s lead with a penalty after Caldy were deemed to have entered the ruck from the side, but Roberts narrowed the gap to a point with a penalty before half- time, making the score 10-9.

The second half was a dour affair with numerous mistakes from both teams, despite it being a perfect day for rugby.

Two Albinson penalties from in front of the posts made it 16-9. Roberts matched him with two more penalties, and at 16-15 with a few minutes to play, the game was there for the taking.

But in the 77th minute, David Wilks caught an overthrown Caldy line out and passed to Dan Palmer, who scored under the posts.

Albinson added the extras’s conversion gave Fylde a crucial eight-point lead, 23-15 lead.

Caldy made three substitutions and following the kick off, got a lineout on Fylde’s 22. Richard Bradshaw collected the ball from a line out and a quick pass from John Broxson found Shaun Woof, who sent the supporting Andrew Soutar under the posts.

A late try from Soutar, with Roberts converting, made it 23-22, but it was too little, too late and the visitors left with just a losing bonus point for their troubles.

Caldy will now try to get back to winning ways when Halifax visit Paton Field on Saturday, kick off 3pm.