Caldy's first ever game in the Championship
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Topic: Caldy's first ever game in the Championship
Posted By: Big Eddie
Subject: Caldy's first ever game in the Championship
Date Posted: 11 Sep 2022 at 11:59
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A beautiful day at Paton Field was the backdrop for players and spectators to watch Caldy's first ever game in the Championship and it was a close competitive affair. There was so much to like about the day, opponents who came to play rugby, the best weather you could hope for and a decent enough crowd of circa 1,300. There were also a dozen spectators from Denmark who had each paid £1,200 to come to Liverpool via Copenhagan and London to watch the Liverpool v Wolves fixture at Anfield. Although crushed about the cancellation which they were only informed about after a 6 hour bus trip from Heathrow, they decided to switch 'stadiums' exchanging Anfield for Paton Field. Arriving an hour or so before kick off gave them plenty of time to enjoy Caldy's hospitality and learn a little bit about what on earth was going to unfold.....despite knowing nothing about rugby their trip was made memorable when Caldy arranged for a couple of Caldy supporters to buy them some beers and take a few souvenier photos. Caldy supporters Neil Mellor and Robbie Fowler certainly lifted the spirits of these Danish LFC supporters and with a signed Caldy shirt and the signed match ball to accompany the selfies with their LFC heroes they have promised to set up a Caldy Supporters club in Denmark...........they are expecting to meet Ian Rush, Jan Molby, Mo Salah, Jurgen Klopp and Andrew Soutar when they come back to Paton Field in October. As I thanked Robbie Fowler for being so generous to Caldy's new Danish supporters a smiling Robbie didn't miss a beat to ask if Caldy would now refund his £10 admission charge......no chance!
To the Game 7 points down within a minute, after a mistake led to a penalty and a Hartpury score from a driven line out, was not the start that Caldy wanted. The visitors were able to keep on the right side of the referee, (former Gloucester prop Nick Wood), better than Caldy and a succession of penalties stifled the home side's momentum allowing the game's stand out player 18 year old Hartpury centre Joe Jenkins to show what a prospect he is. Caldy worked hard to stem the constant fizzing attacks by Hartpury and on the 20 minute mark some enterprising play by the home side's Dan Bibby and Caldy were in for their first ever score at this level. Caldy were getting into the game, and they took the lead
10-7 after another scintillating midfield break by Nick Royle put winger Ben
Jones in at the corner. Although a try by scrum half Bruzulier regained the lead
for Hartpury, Caldy’s forwards were gaining momentum. After a period of
pressure Andrew Darlington was driven over to make it 17-14 to
Caldy just before the break. Caldy didn’t hold the lead for long as Hartpury
flanker Joe Howard scored to give the visitors a 17-19 half time lead. The pivotal moment came some 10 minutes after the restart. What looked like a certain first penalty for Caldy as Hartpury illegally held onto the ball, was inexplicably not given by referee Nick Wood and Hartpury raced away for a fourth try to jump 17-26 ahead. With a further try by Harry Fry, there was the potential
for Hartpury to pull away strongly in the last 15 minutes, but it was Caldy who
finished much the stronger finally forcing a succesion of penalties (their first of the game) with a catch and drive score of their own by Ethan Caine
giving them a consolation four try bonus score. Although a home loss it was still a good day at Paton Filed .......especially if you were one of the Danish LFC fans. ------------- ''The future isn't what it used to be'' |
Replies:
Posted By: WEvans
Date Posted: 11 Sep 2022 at 12:44
| Anfield to Paton Field must have been .... um .... interesting! |
Posted By: Raider999
Date Posted: 11 Sep 2022 at 13:50
Bit of a culture shock? I hope they were given complimentary pot noodles  That said, congratulations to Caldy's for making them welcome ------------- RAID ON |
WEvans wrote:Posted By: WEvans
Date Posted: 11 Sep 2022 at 14:47
Absolutely right Raider. I trust Caldy provided one of their executive boxes at their disposal
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Posted By: Big Eddie
Date Posted: 11 Sep 2022 at 15:24
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To be honest I think our new Danish friends were more than a little overwhelmed by the day......selfies with Neil Mellor were unexpected but to be bought beer by Robbie Fowler had them trembling with as much excitement as they had enjoyed at the time of their first romantic dalliance. For some of them this was a little while ago. One of Caldy's long time supporters, John Wylie, did proudly comment to the Danes that the Paton Field Stadium was in a more finished state than the Anfield Stadium as he had just re painted the last of the outside benches on Friday afternoon. John was fairly confident they would be the right side of 'tacky' by kick off. Unsurprisingly Caldy's new Danish contingent opted to stand.
The minute's silence before the match was impeccably observed by all, only broken by birdsong. The subsequent a capella rendition of 'God Save the King' by the Cheshire President was also met by an impeccable silence. ------------- ''The future isn't what it used to be'' |
Posted By: islander
Date Posted: 11 Sep 2022 at 20:47
| I'm totally entranced by the story about the Danish visitors - absolutely brilliant! |
Posted By: Big Eddie
Date Posted: 11 Sep 2022 at 21:10
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Islander, I am going to send the story to The Rugby Paper and maybe the National Press. It is a feel good story of how a group of Danish football fans were uplifted from terrible disappointment by the camaraderie and hospitality of a small (very small!) Championship rugby club and joined the spirit of rugby. Mathias Krebs and his friends from Kastrup in Copenhagen had what Mathias called 'an amazing experience and just a stunning day at Paton Field'. After being bought beers by Robbie Fowler and other Caldy supporters, the establishment of the Copenhagen Caldy Supporters club took place in the marquee with an informal ceremony. This involved legendary former Caldy 1st xv captain Jon Bagley swapping his shirt and tie for Mathias's LFC t shirt and the rest of the Danish party being presented with Caldy skins by Caldy kit man Gary Sanders Unfortunately I am unable to display the photos on here but they are just as 'happy' a set of photos as you could ever wish to see. I am sure our dear departed Queen would have approved. ------------- ''The future isn't what it used to be'' |
Posted By: FHLH
Date Posted: 11 Sep 2022 at 21:56
BE I knew you were only in this for the fame and fortune 😎😎 Truly magical
------------- "My father told me big men fall just as quick as little ones, if you put a sword through their hearts." |
Posted By: backrowb
Date Posted: 12 Sep 2022 at 08:59
| Big Eddie, what a fantastic tale, and hats off to Caldy for making the weekend so memorable for the unfortunate Danes. I bet they had a ball...and a headache |
Posted By: Stoatgobbler
Date Posted: 12 Sep 2022 at 12:10
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I used to regularly see Jan Molby in my Gower village shop when he was Swansea City manager. |
Posted By: Big Eddie
Date Posted: 12 Sep 2022 at 12:22
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Jan comes up for lunch at Caldy occasionally….. last time he was sitting next to my middle lad Ben (Ben played for Caldy and then Waterloo when they were in the Championship.which tells everyone how old I am) After lunch I asked Ben if he had enjoyed the lunch and the conversation…. Ben replied “Yes…. I was sitting next to a nice guy …proper scouser like…. Didn’t catch his name ….he knew F all about rugby …. but a helluva lot about football……… How quickly fame evaporates
------------- ''The future isn't what it used to be'' |
Posted By: Kimbo
Date Posted: 12 Sep 2022 at 20:39
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I always wondered if Molby affected the scouse accent for the benefit of the telly. Maybe not then. ------------- Our Club |
Posted By: castleparknight
Date Posted: 13 Sep 2022 at 07:13
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I think overseas players acquire the accent where they learn to improve their accent - Guido Volpi had a Welsh accent as that is where he learnt his English ------------- Onward and Upwards C'mon Donny! |
Posted By: Big Eddie
Date Posted: 14 Sep 2022 at 15:58
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This has just popped up on my computer https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/domestic-club-rugby-union/the-english-rugby-championship/362065/caldy-rfc-establish-a-supporters-club-in-copenhagen/" rel="nofollow - https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/all/domestic-club-rugby-union/the-english-rugby-championship/362065/caldy-rfc-establish-a-supporters-club-in-copenhagen/ ------------- ''The future isn't what it used to be'' |
Posted By: Lucky
Date Posted: 16 Sep 2022 at 18:05
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Brilliant Big Eddie! ------------- Farming Fit |