Caldy beat Hull Ionians

Mar 10 2010 by Our Correspondent, Birkenhead News

CALDY produced a faultless second half performance to defeat a resilient Hull Ionians who had taken an eight point lead by the end of the first half.

Ionians were first on the score board when full-back Joe Wright got a penalty from the half way line after two minutes.

Caldy hit back with a try for Jon Nugent who raced down the flank and cut inside to score under the posts after an excellent pass from Derek Salisbury. Ionian’s centre, Will Greenwood, found space out wide to score a try after 13 minutes and prop Adrian Longbone increased the home side’s lead to 15-7 soon after. Paul Arnold hit back for Caldy when he scored yet another try to reduce the deficit but Ionians went further ahead after a try by centre Olly Marns and a penalty and conversion from Wright. Vasey got a penalty on the stroke of half time to leave the score 25-17.

There was only one side in the game in the second half as Caldy scored 24 unanswered points in a near perfect performance. Olly Cooper and Gavin Roberts combined well in the centre for the latter to power under the posts for a try and shortly after Andrew Soutar scored out wide after a quality feed from Neil Dowridge. Vasey kicked the conversion and a drop goal to turn the tables as Caldy led 34-25. Then came the most celebrated moment of the day, as debutant Alex Martland sidestepped four opposing players before he crashed over underneath the posts. Rich Vasey converted the try to take his personal tally to 16 and crown an excellent day.

Elsewhere, teams from Wirral, Cheshire and North Wales were out in force on Sunday for the annual Caldy Junior Rugby Festival. A total of 704 competitors aged from 12 to 16 took part.

Snatching victory in four close finals were Lymm (U13), Chester (U14), Sandbach (U15) and Mold (U16) who received medals and trophies from Caldy’s Director of Rugby Matt Holt who commented “this is what the game is all about - seeing these youngsters come up through the ranks and playing rugby of such a high standard.”

GARETH DAVIES