Magic Ball condemns Caldy to narrow loss

Dec 15 2010 by Our Correspondent, Birkenhead News

THOMAS BALL produced a moment of magic in the seventy fifth minute of this close encounter to give Preston a deserved victory, in a game that was strewn with handling errors from both sides and could have gone either way.

It was clear from the rugby on show that both sides were short of match practice after the long lay off. Caldy fly half Richard Vasey kicked six penalties to keep the game within touching distance with Preston scoring three tries to Caldy’s none.

Caldy Head Coach Stuart Turner said after the game “Preston deserved their victory, they scored three good tries from limited opportunities and we despite getting into the opposition 22 on numerous occasions were unable to finish due to our poor decision making and accuracy. Preston’s defence never gave in throughout the eighty minutes.”

Turner further said “Both sides looked rusty but Preston’s more workmanlike and measured approach meant that they didn’t make too many mistakes through over ambitious play which we were guilty of.”

The early stages of the game were fairly cagey with both sides struggling to find any rhythm and both sides being found guilty of handling errors when in possession of the ball. Preston were first on the score sheet after fifteen minutes when Caldy were adjudged to have been offside at the breakdown and Preston fly half Mark Edwards duly kicked the goal.