Caldy’s winless run ends in thrilling fashion

CALDY won their first game in seven but they almost lost it in the second half to a resurgent Hull Ionians.

After an early penalty for Caldy by Gavin Roberts, a try scored by Ionians’ Joe Allott, courtesy of a fortunate ricochet from an attempted Caldy interception, gave the visitors a short-lived early lead.

Caldy hit back through a trademark kick and chase try by Nick Royle before centre Delwyn Jones stretched the home side’s lead further after good work by the forwards.

The Caldy pack extended the advantage just before half-time as they drove the visitors off their own ball to give JJ Dickinson a try.

Ionians came out for the second half impressively. Mistakes by the home side gifted possession away and tries by James Sanderson and Lewis Wilson brought Ionians back into it until a brutal midfield break by James Otutaha put Gavin Roberts in for the home side’s bonus point score.

With time ticking down, Caldy looked to have secured the five-point win but Ionians still had bonus points of their own to play for and they desperately surged forward looking for a way back into the tie,

A nervous Caldy were hanging on at the death and another home mistake gave Ionians the chance to snatch a last-gasp try through replacement Ben Stephenson. That sent them home with two losing bonus points but Caldy took the spoils.