Junior Colts v Caldy, Sunday 8 March

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KLRUFC Junior Colts vs Caldy Colts
Underley Park had already seen its share of rugby drama this weekend, and Sunday delivered one more chapter. Caldy made the trip north, hoping to spoil the party — but Kirkby Lonsdale had other ideas. With seventeen fit players and eleven still side-lined, this was always going to be a test of heart as much as skill. U16 Cooper Wadsworth stepped up for his Colts debut, adding an extra spark to the squad.
Warm up? Let’s just say Coach Barker’s hat nearly took flight. But once the whistle went, the lads lit up.
Because of an earlier serious injury in the U15s game (UPDATE: now out of A&E just bruised and battered), the match moved to the 3rd XV pitch — and the Colts dedicated their performance to the young Kirkby Lonsdale player. Speedy recovery young man.
From the kick off, it was chaos in the best possible way: end to end rugby, crunching tackles from Hill, Parry and Black, and Captain Muldowney and Star Centre Turner organising the defensive line like generals. A turnover sparked the first real break. Holdsworth and Harrison punched holes, Southey burst clear, and although the offload didn’t stick, Kirkby weren’t done. Stephens, Skelton Montgomery, Hutchings and Turner hunted the ball down, won it back, and suddenly the pitch opened up. Armer → Southey → Hutchings → Turner. A steamrolling finish. 5–0 Kirkby. Caldy hit back hard, but Muldowney’s jackal turnover and a barnstorming run from Clayton kept them at bay. Then came a huge defensive stand — Turner, Hill and Gore combining for a try saver — before a yellow card for Holdsworth put Kirkby under pressure. Down a man, the lads produced magic.
From deep in their own 22, the ball travelled through every pair of hands before makeshift winger Taylor scorched down the touchline for try number two. 10–0. Caldy finally broke through to make it 10–7, but Kirkby answered instantly. Wadsworth, Graham-Cumming and Black laid the platform, Turner thundered forward, Southey zipped through space, and Gore hit top speed to finish. 15–7 at the break.
Caldy opened the half camped in Kirkby’s 22, but the defence was granite. Turner, Parry, Black, Hill — hit after hit after hit. When the pressure finally eased, Kirkby went wide. Taylor and Clayton tested the edges, and despite a few knock ons, the intent was clear: keep the tempo high.
Then came the moment. Hands through the line again, space on the outside, and Taylor — now fully in exocet mode — blasted in for his second. Turner added the extras. 22–7. Caldy refused to fold, grabbing one back to make it 22–12, but Kirkby weren’t letting this slip. The final ten minutes were a showcase of grit and ambition: Parry, Muldowney and Hill carrying hard, Holdsworth and Harrison smashing rucks, Skelton Montgomery darting, Southey and Gore probing, Wadsworth tackling like he’d been there for years. And then the gap appeared. Hutchings hit it at full pace, stepped the defender, and dived in for try number five. Turner converted. 29–12. Caldy pushed for a late consolation, but Black, Muldowney and Turner shut the door. One final scrum, one final clearance from Armer — job done.
FULL TIME: KLRUFC Colts 29 – 12 Caldy Colts
A performance full of fire, physicality and flashes of pure magic. Against a well drilled Caldy side, the lads showed heart, hunger and no shortage of skill.
Upcoming Fixtures:
• Chester (A) Sun 15 March, 12:30 KO
• Stockport (H) Sat 21 March, 14:15 KO