Marple (u14) - 14 - 26 - Caldy (u14)

Marple entertained Caldy at Wood Lane, the first time the two clubs had met and a fair journey over for the excellent Merseyside club.

The game was played on a pleasant October morning with both sides putting on a superb display of intensity. Caldy struck first with a well worked move to get the ball wide as Marple scrambled to cover, a try which was duly converted. Marple showed excellent resilience as the game was played at a good speed with both sides battling hard for territory and possession. Finn got Marple back on track with a trademark burst from inside centre, barging his way through the last line of defence and getting the grounding behind the sticks for Isaac B to have a simple conversion and take the sides into the break level at 7-7.

The second half continued in the same fashion as the first period with both sides trading blows, but Caldy's pace out wide on both flanks continued to represent danger and this came to the fore after some good play. Marple were perhaps unlucky to see Caldy score three tries - one of which was questioned for double movement and on another day may not have stood, but ultimately Caldy were good for their lead albeit the score-line probably didn't represent the competitiveness of the match. Marple fought valiantly though, with Mason spotting a superb gap to dart through and score after a good offload from Tyler - again Isaac B was solid from the tee to take the score to 27-14 Caldy.

The match came to a close after a long sequence of play from Marple trying valiantly to breach the Caldy defence and close the deficit but it wasn't to be.

In terms of a game of rugby this was amongst some of the best we've seen at u14s involving two sides putting in superb performances on the day, and a great barometer for the developing Marple side against quality opposition. The red and blacks will look forward to the return at Caldy (although perhaps not the January weather!) and a growing positive relationship between the two clubs.