Actual week 12 fixtures

3t each

Hartpury turned up and played we did not. Well done Hartpury 

I don't remember Jersey losing a lineout all match. Am I imaging things? Last but one try for Jersey came after a blatant forward pass and I'm not sure how they got a 5m scrum at the end that led to the penalty try. However, Cov should have been home and hosed by then so only ourselves to blame...

C

The Jersey lineout has been mentioned a few times - from my standpoint it was decent in the first half, with only one lost, but then went downhill after that, towards the levels seen in defeat by Ealing on Xmas Eve.

Fair play to the Reds for having the spirit to come back, while Cov will definitely feel they let one get away. They replaced loose-head and hooker/capt with 5 mins to play, maybe that played a part. Both sides tried to win it in last 2 mins, credit to them for that in being willing to lose 1pt in order to win 3 more.

Around 150 for lunch were treated to an enjoyable meal, the presence of the Mayor of Wirral and his consort both bedecked in their splendid chains of office and our very gracious guests from Richmond which included a number of past Richmond presidents, their current President Chris Mills and their distinguished and engaging present Chairman John Heaton.

The Richmond cadre were welcomed by Caldy President Graham who always sets the right tone at lunch. Graham's comedic timing isn't quite up to the same standard as his transport and logistics skills and early in his tenure he wisely cut out any pretence at humour and that sort of thing.

Yesterday our Graham was at his warm and sincere but humourless best, playing the Ernie Wise to Richmond's Eric Morecambe in the form of Richmond President Chris Mills. 

This master of wit and repartee gave one of the most humorous and entertaining of pre match speeches ever enjoyed at Paton Field. Praising the foresight of his 96 year old father (who was sculling red wine on an adjacent table) for bringing him into the world in Wales was a good start and endeared him to a very very small number of Caldy supporters. But soon his lively and sometimes caustically funny wit enveloped all at lunch setting the perfect back drop for a tremendous Caldy performance on the pitch. In his more serious remarks Chris Mills used Rolling Maul as one of his preferred reference points as a predictive guide to the likely close nature of this round 12 fixture. 

Rolling Maul let Chris down.

It was a dominant Caldy performance against a somewhat lack lustre Richmond side that conceded too many penalties and struggled to cope with Caldy's crunching tackling and the physicality of their punishing pack. Caldy racked up 24 points in the best 40 minutes of rugby they have played this season and went in at the break 24-0. The Ravers were dissapointed they couldn't eke out a bonus point but they will be reasonably satisfied with their performance.

In contrast to other posts on round 12 the officiating at Caldy v Richmond was clear, unobtrusive and of a high standard.

Both Chris Mills and John Heaton took the defeat graciously and as I wandered back to my car no one could fail to hear Caldy's external tannoy blasting out Chris Mills' declaration that he was now also a 'Raver' and on behalf of Richmond accepting a boat race challenge against Caldy's man of the match Rhys Hayes and a previous MoM recipient Adam Aigbokhae.

I wouldn't put it past Chris Mills to have restored some pride for Richmond by winning that particular challenge 

Update: I have it on good authority that a guzzling Rhys Hayes completely bested Chris Mills