1stXV v Caldy, 14:15, Sat Feb 23rd, 2019, National 1, Match Preview
Ampthill welcome Caldy to Dillingham Park this coming Saturday.
Old Caldeians RFC were formed in 1924 by a group of Caldy School old boys who decided to carry on playing rugby together.
A year later, Sir Alfred Paton, an old boy of the school, gave 20 acres of land to The National Trust 20 with the a binding requirement that it was to be available to the rugby club to use as a playing area in perpetuity, hence Paton Field.
In 1928 the club finally took possession of Paton Field and built a clubhouse which, despite being constrcted from wood, remains a major part of the current clubhouse some 90 years later!
On the field, the club have risen steadily up the pyramid since the formation of league rugby in 1987, winning the North West Two league title in 1997. Promoted to North One in 2005 and then, just two tears later, to National Two North where they remained for a decade before securing promotion to National 1, their highest ever level, at the end of the 2016-17 season by narrowly defeating Sale in front of their biggest ever crowd numbering 1432. In addition they secured their 6th Cheshire Cup by beating Sandbach to add the icing on a well deserved cake.
Caldy were one of the pioneer ‘RFU Seal of Approval’ clubs with their strong Mini & Youth system a cornerstone of the clubs development.
Caldy currently lie 13th in National One with a played 22 won 9 record. In the reverse fixture earlier this season Ampthill lost a tight game 19-18 at Paton field.
Last week our 1stXV defeated Bishops Stortford at Dillingham Park 34-24 securing the bonus point to remain 2nd in National 1 5pts behind leaders Old Elthamians.
A’s squad sees a few changes this week, up front Billy Johnson moves to lock, Will Allman & Maama Molitka start at openside flanker and eighthman respectively. The backs see Kevin Barrett return at scrum half, Josh Sharp at fly half and Will Foster on the wing. The bench sees Joe Bercis rotate to cover the back row.
Director or Rugby Mark Lavery comments “After another tough game last week A’s run into a team with arguably the best back three in the division and to whom they lost before Christmas. It will require another consistent performance for Ampthill to maintain their title challenge.
A 14:15 KO followed by the “Grand Slam” decider between Wales & England being shown live in the club house at 16:45, a perfect afternoon for all you Maroon and Gold Ultras”
In the absence of an updated team sheet from Caldy their team shown is that selected to play the postponed game on Feb 02. Check back before kick off for an update.
