Caldy Under 16s win Cheshire Cup to conclude a highly successful season for the rugby club

May 18 2011 by Our Correspondent, Birkenhead News

CALDY has just concluded the most successful season in the history of the club finishing fifth in National North 2 with a total of 97 points.

End of season awards were presented to Player of the Year Andrew Soutar (fullback), Young Player of the Year to JJ Dickinson (7/8) and overall Club Team of the Year went to the all conquering Under 16s.

Club President Jim Churchill paid tribute to the young team and to the new leadership duo of Caldy Director of Rugby Simon Wright and Head coach Stuart Turner.

Caldy’s U16s romped home with the Cheshire Cup after a very exciting match against last year’s winners Macclesfield at Wilmslow RFC.

The Caldy side stormed out of the blocks and were 15 - 0 up after 15 minutes with two tries and a penalty. Macclesfield managed to weather the initial storm and there was no further score by half time.

Caldy however were in the driving seat.

The second half was highly competitive and brought two further tries and a penalty kick for Caldy. Three tries for Macclesfield was not enough and the final score was 26 - 15.

The Macclesfield team, although boasting two England U16 players and six Cheshire players, did not have enough in the locker to stop the confident Caldy boys.

Caldy’s tries were scored by Tom Billington (2), John Simpson and Gareth Bond with both penalty kicks taken by Andy Crosby.

The Cheshire Cup, which the U16s have now won three times, was the crowning achievement for the team which also won the Caldy Junior Festival in March.

The U16s lost only one game all season in all competitions - to local rivals Wirral - but revenge was taken when Caldy knocked them out of the semi finals of the Cheshire Cup at Wirral.

In recognition of all their achievements this season Caldy U16s were Caldy Junior Team of the Year as well as Club Team of the Year.

Coach Mike Dewey said: “I am so proud of the boys – they have had a fantastic season and they all stepped up to the mark when required.”

In two weeks time, The Caldy Sevens is promising the return of the beer tent and a feast of exciting rugby and off-pitch entertainment on May 29.