24/25 / Week 6

Dave played for Wales, according to this article… so he’s ahead of Gavin on that front. I wonder if they’re related?!

So, anyone care to say how many club products for Donny and Ampthill represented them on Saturday?

I think you may be over-estimating the level of Trekky knowledge among several members of the RM congregation… including me.

Sev7en has previously taken exception to Caldy's performance without perhaps fully understanding the extent of the disparity between the resources available to Caldy compared to other Premiership and Championship clubs.

There is nothing like a bit of contentious debate (whether justifiable or not) to stimulate discussion on any forum so Sev7en's left field observations serve a purpose.

As I am sure you are aware Caldy Raver, due to its resource footprint and its community roots the Caldy operating model is I suspect entirely different to most other clubs in levels 1 to 3. Caldy runs 3 senior teams plus age group sides all the way through minis to senior colts....these sides are the backbone of the club.

As you said last weekend there were 5 mini and junior players in Caldy's match day squad (I think this became 6 when another 2nd xv player was called up late). A significant number of the rest of Caldy's match day squad are local/Merseyside/Cheshire players who have come to Caldy from other local/Merseyside/Cheshire  rugby clubs in order to play at the highest standard they can. 

This local pathway is vitally important for both Caldy and the local community and it works. There are a significant number of players who have moved from local clubs at level's 5/6 & 7 to Caldy and have now played Championship level rugby either in league or Cup fixtures. Young full back Matt Kilcourse and centre Jacob Mitchell are two such examples moving from level 7 (I think) and level 5 clubs to Caldy. In Matt's case becoming an ever present starter at full back in his first season at Caldy. 

This pathway is normally initially either through Caldy's amazing 2nd xv which is unbeaten in an extraordinary run of 110 games over the last 5 or 6 years or through Caldy's 3rd xv which is the bridge for young former colts players to transition into adult rugby. 

Last weekend Caldy's 2nd xv just pipped Fylde's 2nd xv by 21 to 20 at the Woodlands to preserve their amazing record and the 3rd xv were on the wrong side of a narrow loss in a competitive and entertaining game against Ellesmere Port's 1st xv.

Caldy train twice a week with 50 to 60 players involved in fully integrated sessions led by a very good coaching group headed up by former Premiership player and Wirral born and raised Matt Cairns. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that players who come to Caldy from other local clubs hugely benefit from the brilliant coaching set up at Caldy and improve significantly as individuals. 

So far this season 41 players have been involved in Caldy's Championship/Premiership Cup Squads and I am sure that Caldy DOR Gareth Davies and Head Coach Matt Cairns are as proud of this statistic as they are about this very small rugby club's status as a Championship club.

As for those Sale Sharks players that turn out for Caldy, they are all good lads but I haven't ever seen a Caldy match day squad with more than 4 Sale Sharks' players involved, generally they number 2 or 3 and these players like the excellent Tristan Woodman and others before him are involved throughout the season and are Ravers through and through.

I think everyone at Caldy and all the 1.500 - 2,000 supporters who regularly attend Paton Field are extremely proud of what Caldy's DOR Gareth Davies and all the coaching and support staff from 1st xv squad all the way down to Under 6 minis have built.........

Caldy really is a Community Club and long may it continue!

This aspect of Level 2 and 3 clubs is completely forgotten by RFU and Premiership other than a place to harvest players