Salisbury brings up his triple ton for Caldy

TODAY’s game marks Derek Salisbury’s 300th appearance in the Caldy front row.

The 31-year-old tighthead made his first-team debut over a decade ago and was a key member of the promotion-winning side of 2017.

“I’m starting to feel it a bit now recovery-wise,” said the builder’s merchant. “I’ve been quite lucky with injuries and Caldy is a good place to play. It (the 300game milestone) has just crept up on me, the seasons have flown by.”

Affectionately known at the club as ‘Degsy’, the Liverpudlian is not one to crave the spotlight and picks out two of his fellow pack members for praise.

“There’s been some good players at the club in the past, but this is probably the best team I’ve played in,” he said. “Tom Sanders and Harrison Crowe are the unsung heroes. Tom is unreal every week, his standards never drop, and Harrison is our go-to man in the forwards.”

Caldy coach Simon Verbickas, however, is in no doubt about Salisbury’s value. “He’s a top bloke and a proper club man.”

While looking forward to bringing up his triple century, Salisbury hopes the game against the students doesn’t pass him by.

“It’ll be fast, that’s the only problem. I’m getting old and they’ll be young and athletic!”

Caldy’s opening two games were tight affairs, with a win and a loss against Moseley and Sale FC respectively, and Verbickas expects another hard battle.

“Last year at home we were won by a significant margin but I don’t think it will be the same this year, all results in the league seem to be very, very close.”