CALDY RFC 5 v DMPRFC 19

For those rugby enthusiasts who braved the outside conditions, the rugby on offer was greatly affected by the swirling wind and driving rain, however the players conspired to provide an entertaining game, with plenty of dogged determination, with no quarter asked or given by either side.

Granted, there were many knock-ons due to the slippery ball, numerous line-outs re-taken for not straight with the wind blowing a gale and contentious, bruising and furious exchanges at the muddy contact areas, however this did not detract from the whole-hearted effort expended by both teams.

With a proud home win record that has helped Caldy RFC maintain their mid-table position, regardless of the visit of the league leaders, they were never going to lie down and although predominantly a defensive display, they did register a deserved try for all their endeavours.

With the wind in the favour of the visitors, it was no surprise that Caldy RFC were unable to get out of their own half before oranges.

It seemed as if it was only a matter of how many tries DMPRFC could conjure in this period, as they pressed to put the game out of sight before the interval, with centre Lewis JOHNSTON touching down in the corner after only two minutes had elapsed.

Hooker Ross DONEGHAN had broken through midfield on half way, making good progress into the home 22-metre line, dummying to his support in the process and wrong-footing the defence. Just as proceedings appeared to have broken down, the ball was re-cycled along the line and out to Lewis JOHNSTON who outpaced the cover for the first score (0 – 5).

Things must have looked ominous for the home side, as they re-grouped under the posts and when fly half Max CONNON measured the conversion perfectly (0 - 7), a hard day at the office could have been predicted for Caldy RFC.

However, despite DMPRFC relentlessly pounding into the Caldy RFC defence, to their credit, the home side stood their ground and repelled incessant waves of close quarter combat efforts.

In fact it took a further seventeen of ‘more of the same’, before lock Chris CAMPBELL forced his way over for the second try (0 – 12). Again, faced with an identical conversion attempt, Max CONNON repeated his success, skilfully using the wind, edging his side further ahead (0 – 14).

The second quarter remained scoreless, despite the pressure applied to the Caldy line and the home side collectively and quite rightly felt they had done a good defensive job as oranges arrived.

However, if they thought that they might repeat the weather assisted first half performance of their visitors, they were mistaken, as DMPRFC initially and literally picked up where they left off, with the forards pounding at the Caldy line.

The home side were hampered further with a spell in ‘the cooler’ for their combative No.8 for persistent offside, but he was to have his moment of glory later in the game.

Just prior to the return of the Caldy No.8 and on a rare foray into the visitors territory, the home side lost the ball in attack and DMPRFC were able to profit via winger Shaun McCARTNEY, who after being fed the ball, sprinted in from the half way line, fending off a defender en route (0 – 19). On this occasion, the conversion was unsuccessful.

The longer the game went on, some frustration crept into the visitor's psyche and passages of play and opportunities for the bonus point try went begging. This was also coupled in no small measure, with a good defensive display from Clady RFC.

At the same time, Caldy were buoyed by this and mounted a rear guard action, edging their way closer to the visitor’s line. Several 14-man mauls were attempted from close range and it certainly deserved that they managed to force their way over the line for a try, their No.8 emerging triumphantly (5 – 19).

A late sin-binning of visiting prop Ralph APPLEBY did not affect the visitors, but they just could not score the fourth try, as time ran out.