CALDY just got home 26-25 in a National Two North League thriller at Huddersfield.

It was an absorbing clash between two strong sides and the result could have gone either way.

In the end the trusty boot of Richard Vasey won it for Caldy.

He landed a crucial penalty on 78 minutes after the Yorkshire side with a 75th minute drop goal looked to have snatched the spoils.

Liam Devaney and Gavin Roberts gained Caldy tries both converted by Vasey who managed four penalties in all.

There was never much between the sides and Caldy held their breath as Huddersfield desperately tried to sway the balance with two unsuccessful late, late drop attempts.

Birkenhead Park felt harshly done by at Darlington Modwen Park in National Three North.

They led 8-7 at the interval but then conceded twenty one points in a crazy eight-minute spell in the third quarter and lost 7-28.

Two of the home touch downs should have been disallowed for a blatant forward pass and an equally obvious knock-on.

The Wirral side conceded inside the first minute but settled down well to gain a try through Dave Ibbotson and a penalty via Dave Hall before the break.

But then it all went wrong and the visitors could not get back in the picture in an even and scoreless final quarter.

Anselmians had to settle for a Mark Sopp try converted by Matt Pennington in a 7-32 North One defeat at Leigh.

It was better for Wirral who just sneaked home 14-13 away to Carlisle.

All the scoring came in the first period. Dan Harvey and Rob Pearl went in for Wirral and Craig Harvey added the goals.

Carlisle achieved two tries and a penalty but paid dearly for missed conversions.

New Brighton suffered their first defeat in South Lancashire/Cheshire One 22-44 away to Sale but Hoylake were more than happy with a 20-5 finish against visiting Orrell.

Oldershaw, the local Division Two representatives, fell 26-35 at home to Crewe and Nantwich.

Parkonians took a dour Division Three top of the table clash with Buxton 12-8 thanks to four successful penalties by Terry Williams.

There was derby bragging rights for Wallasey over Prenton in a 24-21 finish.

Port Sunlight were on the wrong side of a 10-13 outcome against Holmes Chapel.

Caldy face Loughborough Students at Paton Field this Saturday.

Birkenhead are on the road again to Altrincham Kersal but there are home fixtures for Anselmians against LSH and Wirral against Vale of Lune.

Further down the scale it's New Brighton v Tyldesley, Hoylake at Ormskirk, Oldershaw v Ramsey, Prenton at Helsby, Parkonians at Knutsford and a Wallasey v Port Sunlight derby.

A new book "The History of Hoylake Rugby" has been written by John Tipping who has been archivist at the club for more than 40 years.

The 120 pages mainly deal with the years 1922-2011 with a little from 1891.

The book costs £38 and purchase details can be obtained from the club.

Meanwhile, writes Andy Brown, Wirral were rewarded for their long journey to Carlisle with a hard earned 14-13 win, although Carlisle had the opportunities to achieve their first league win of the season.

All the points were scored in the first half with Carlisle building up an 8-0 lead through a Matthew Minnett try and a penalty from Glen Weightman, before a well taken try by Danny Harvey having been set up by his brother Craig, the latter went on to convert.

Within the next few minutes there was an exchange of tries with Carlisle extending their lead with a push over try by Gareth Wylie but this was erased when Danny Harvey set up Robbie Pearl to score under the posts, Craig Harvey converted to give Wirral the lead for the first time, 14-13.

In the second half, Wirral came more into the game and whilst they made a number of breaks they were unable to capitalise as both defences cancelled each other out.

Carlisle had the chance to steal the game with two penalty chances but these were missed and in the end it was Wirral's renowned defence that kept a spirited Carlisle at bay.

THE GLOBE