Week 18

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 Nat1 wrote:

It sounds like Caldy weren't far off getting a bonus point or two. It's always impressive when 2nd team players step up against full time professionals. Was this due to injuries to first team players?

The record you highlight reminds me of Chinnor Wildboys (3rd XV) who went on a similarly long run of wins, incredible. They then moved up through the Counties Leagues to start facing 1 XVs, which brought them to the right level of opposition. 

Have Caldy 2nd XV considered that option (if available) to provide the next challenge? Perhaps even the Regional Leagues (L6, 5) although I'm not sure 2nd XVs are permitted in these?

Nat 1 just answering your questions
 There were a couple of regular 1st xv players missing for personal reasons, and another two in Connor Wilkinson and Nathan Rushton were playing for the Barbarians. Obviously with four or five out from the regular 1st xv squad the impact trickled down to the 2nd xv. The lads who stepped up from the 2nd xv to face Doncaster all did themselves proud and similarly the young lads that stepped up from the 3rd xv into the 2ndxv for the cup match against Sedgley Park also really performed.

Caldy have dominated the North West Halbro Premier League for the last 5 or 6 years and there has been real consideration and attempts by the club for the squad to go into the RFU leagues but there has been opposition (principally from the Lancashire Clubs) and a requirement to limit their position to level 7 which would be of very little benefit.

The 2nd xvs from Chester, Sedgley Park, Fylde and Preston Grasshoppers tend to provide stiff opposition with some of the other sides like Blackburn and Rossendale pushing hard but often fading away in the later stages. The killer for the lads is the number of late cry offs by other clubs when it comes to 2nd xv league fixtures against Caldy with at least eight this season.

Most if not all of Caldy's 2nd xv would be starting 1st xv players in other local clubs playing at level 5 or level 6 where they would pick up a match fee (there is no match fee for Caldy 2nd xv players) and in the last few seasons I can think of at least a dozen or so Caldy players who have made that switch. 

However, most of the current Caldy 2nd xv squad have realistic aspirations to play Championship rugby and this season the Caldy 1st xv squad has used at least 50 players. There is only one senior squad of players who all train and are coached together with Tuesday and Thursday sessions comprising of 50 to 60 such players. 

Ambitious young players at Caldy know that if they work hard and show the right attitude and ability they will get their shot. Despite the pressures of Championship rugby Caldy is generally a meritocratic, transparent and enjoyable environment for aspiring young players. There is no greater pleasure than to see :

- a young player progress through the age groups at Caldy and eventually make his debut in the Championship as Dylan Carroll did on Saturday against Doncaster or 

- another young local player coming to Caldy, progressing through the 2nd xv to become a regular Championship level player as Matt Kilcourse, Will Robinson, Freddie Stevenson and numerous others have done so during the last couple of seasons or 

- a more mature local player arrive at Caldy and significantly improve his rugby through great coaching and an inclusive and enjoyable atmosphere

Edited by Big Eddie - 1 hour 42 minutes ago at 15:27