Nottingham couldn’t maintain their perfect start to the season as they suffered a 24-31 home defeat to Caldy despite leading at half time. The side from the Wirral are becoming something of a bogey team for the Archers after they also did the double over Craig Hammond’s men last season.
Visiting head coach Matt Cairns lauded his side’s determination: “I thought we dogged it out tonight. We stayed in the fight after a really poor start and we just found a way to win.”
Archers’ attack coach David Ross had his own ideas about how Caldy were able to find that way to win: “Ultimately it was our inaccuracy which cost us the game. We had a total of 20 turnovers and you’re not going to win a game doing that.”
For the third time this campaign Nottingham started brightly when, aided by visiting winger Rhys Tudor’s yellow card for a high tackle, debutant Finn Theobald-Thomas crashed over at the back of the maul after the resultant penalty had been kicked to the corner on three minutes.
While Gwyn Parks was unable to convert that try he only had to wait a further three minutes for another attempt, that he duly despatched, when Evan Mitchell extended the Archers’ lead after being released on the right by Charlie Davies.
Midway through the first period Caldy fly half Kieran Wilkinson spun his way through a Nottingham goal line defence that has proved practically impenetrable so far this season. The playmaker added the extras to his own try to make it 12-7 and that’s how the score stayed until half time.
Wilkinson was the focus of all the talking points for a while as he spent the period either side of the break in the sin bin but, once restored to the action, he levelled matters off the back of a scrum in the corner, however was unable to convert.
Back came Nottingham thanks to Harry Graham finding a gap in the Caldy defence with an excellent line and he ran it in from 25 metres. Parks converted. The home side weren’t ahead for long, however, as a converted try from replacement hooker Ollie Hearn once again restored parity.
With the game entering the final 10 minutes the visitors took the lead for the first time as Dom Hansen registered the bonus point try. Wilkinson added the extras but Parks couldn’t do likewise for Nottingham shortly afterwards when Sam Mercer dotted down after getting on the end of a delightful crossfield chip from Josh Goodwin.
It was the Ravers who had the final say, however, when Tudor got their fifth try of the evening with five minutes remaining.