Caldy RUFC battle hard to secure win at Kendal RUFC

Mar 23 2011 by Our Correspondent, Birkenhead News

CALDY had to dig deep in order to secure a second successive win in National Two North and on balance probably just deserved to shade this one with their willingness to run at every opportunity.

Caldy showed their much-improved defensive grit throughout the game but especially in the last five minutes when they had their backs to the wall as Kendal laid siege to the Caldy line.

Caldy scored first through lock Mike Manley after some excellent team play that saw the Kendal pack dragged all over the field and eventually Manley found a gap and did not need to be asked twice as he sprinted through to touch down.

Richard Vasey kicked the conversion. The impressive Mark Ireland struck back with a penalty for Kendal before Caldy scored another try through man-of-the-match Adam Aigbokhae who stretched over the line after a series of driving mauls.

Kendal then appeared to raise their tempo as Ireland kicked another penalty to reduce the deficit to six points.

Right on half-time, Caldy had a kick charged down as on their five metre line and back rower Daniel White pounced to score. Ireland kicked the conversion to give Kendal the lead at the change-around.

Ireland stretched the lead to four on 49 minutes with a well-taken penalty which was cancelled out five minutes later by a Vasey penalty.

On 55 minutes, Gareth Gore scored a well deserved try but Caldy did not panic and Vasey landed a penalty on 71 minutes to bring Caldy to within three points.

The crucial score came on 75 minutes when wing Dan Rowlands popped up on the opposite flank and made a break before passing inside to AJ Smith who ran in for the score.

Vasey then successfully tacked-on the conversion.

Kendal then had several attempts to break the Caldy line but were thwarted by some excellent defence and the Merseysiders snatched the spoils in another close encounter.