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Apr 15 2009 by Our Correspondent, Birkenhead News

Caldy 16

Darlington Mowden Park 16

AN end of season game that felt and looked exactly like one exploded into life in the second half as Caldy and DMP fought over crucial league points at sun-bathed Paton Field.

Both teams were struggling for form and it showed in a first half whose only noticeable feature was the two penalties kicked by Caldy’s Gavin Roberts against one from DMP’s Jon Benson.

However, the turgid fare was completely forgotten within 30 seconds of the referee’s whistle for the second session.

In that time, Darlington roared out of the blocks, with quicksilver winger Jason Elliott just being forced out in the corner, and then Darlington flanker Andy Tonkin thought he had rumbled over the line, only for the referee to call play back.

DMP's livewire number eight Michael Ellery was also to the fore, but Caldy seemed to have weathered the storm.

However DMP moved the ball across the pitch in the 45th minute, allowing Tonkin to slip through a gap for the try.

They seemed to be running away with the game when a Caldy move broke down in midfield and the ball was quickly passed to Jason Elliott who outpaced the home cover to score again in the 50th minute.

Crucially however, both conversions were missed by Benson, meaning Caldy were still within one converted try at 13-6 down.

Sensing they had come through DMP’s purple patch, Caldy – who up until then had looked hesitant and weary – regained some of the urgency that characterised their play earlier in the season.

First Sam Dickinson, who had a fine game at number eight, set off on a typically powerful run in midfield. The ball was kept alive through several phases until substitute hooker Neil Dowridge crossed the line, Roberts converting to level the scores after 65 minutes.

Roberts kicked another penalty to edge the home team in front before DMP sub Ben Snook levelled the scores again when Sam Cotterell was caught holding the ball in the tackle on 78 minutes.

Roberts could have won the match for Caldy but with the last kick of the game, his penalty from 40 metres out sailed just to the right of the posts.