Caldy make Sharks work hard for their victory

By John Lyon

Caldy ……………. 24pts

Tries: Penalty 20, Rushton 31, Mitchell 44, Booth 46

Conversions: Barker 44

Sale Sharks … 42pts

Tries: Wills 7, Birch 37, 52, Le Roux 42, Roberts 60, Ramont 78

Conversions: Curtis 8, 37, 42, 52, 60, 78

On Friday morning Storm Lillian had been battering the Wirral, by early evening its force was replaced by the power of the visiting Sale Sharks. The Ravers and their full-time Premiership rivals played out an extremely competitive and entertaining match in front of 2,000 spectators basking in the blustery but sunny conditions. Although the Ravers eventually went down by four tries to six, Caldy’s head coach Matt Cairns was delighted with the home side’s performance. “We picked up from where we left off in last week’s pre -season win against Welsh Premiership side RGC and despite the loss I was proud of our commitment and execution in both defence and attack. Our second score was one of the finest trys the Ravers have ever scored at Paton Field.”

The Sharks scored first after their enterprising wide play put winger Alex Wills in at the corner. Stand-off Tom Curtis unperturbed by Lillian’s tail began his 100% match day record, kicking the touch line conversion.

The visitors dominated possession for the first 20 minutes but when the home side broke the shackles they did so with purpose.

Scrum dominance by the Ravers on the Sharks’ 22 metre line resulted in a lineout drive and a penalty try for the home side after the visitors illegally sacked the maul. A move initiated by Caldy’s Lewis Barker featuring precise interplay between the home side’s forwards and backs swept the length and width of the field to eventually put burly Raver’s prop Nathan Rushton in at the corner. The home side held a brief 12-7 lead until Shark’s number 8 Rouban Birch scored the first of his two scores to give the visitors a half time advantage at 12-14.

With the wind at their back the home side dominated the early part of the second half. A Sharks score against the run of play by Le Roux Roets was matched by Caldy’s Jacob Mitchell and the Ravers nudged into the lead with a powerful drive by prop Monty Booth.

With 10 minutes to go of an absorbing and close fought game the Ravers were leading 24 – 21. However, with the home side now fielding a cabal of promising youngsters the power of the Premiership side began to tell. Sale Sharks’ impressive Rouban Birch claimed his second score and further scores from Tye Raymont and Osian Roberts closed out the game for the Sharks.