Cheshire Cup 5th Round
Caldy 32
Wilmslow Wolves 31
WILMSLOW set up a tantalising two weeks of rugby with a spirited display at Caldy.
The Wolves proved they can live comfortably a league higher when they took the leaders of North Two West to the wire in this exciting fifth round Cheshire Cup tie.
And with two crucial league fixtures this week and next, the preparation couldn't have been better.
If Wilmslow had to lose, this was exactly how coach Steve Mannion and skipper Jed Hill would have planned it.
Wilmslow came back from 20-3 down in the first half to lead 24-20 in the second before Caldy piled on the pressure.
The Wolves were in the hunt right to the death and were unlucky not to have stolen a result at the end. But with league commitments a priority, a county cup run is a luxury this squad can ill afford.
Wilmslow face a stern test at third-placed Rochdale this weekend, and buoyed by their performance on the Wirral they will be looking to do the double on their hosts.
The Wolves won 28-10 at Pownall Park back in October, despite going 10-0 down early on against a strong side.
But there is no longer the strength in depth that Wilmslow enjoyed at the start of the season, and the management face selection problems, not least in the back row.
Centre Steve Braddock has filled in on the flank for the last two weeks and will be looking to join forces again with Phil Carr in the centre to bolster the Wolves' defence.
Fergus Owens' debut performance in the centre against Caldy was workmanlike and suggests greater things lie ahead. But Rochdale away is no picnic, and Mannion and Hill will have their work cut out to select a wining side for Saturday.
Said Mannion: "A good, hard cup tie has set us up well for an even harder league match. We are under no illusion this is make or break time for us.
"We go to Rochdale on Saturday and second-placed Leigh come to us the following week. It is time to ask the lads to dig deep, find everything they've got in reserve and produce it over the next two weeks."
A Bob McCallum penalty was all Wilmlsow had to show for 30 minutes hard graft into a biting wind at Caldy last week. They conceded a try after nine minutes and another just after the half hour and were staring a drubbing in the face.
Then Caldy lock forward Peter Wallace was sin binned for punching, Wilmslow seized the initiative and a Chris Jones try, converted by McCallum saw them turn around 20-10 down.
Winger Rich Wood and scrum-half Dan Hargreaves added two more tries, and McCallum two conversions to give Wilmslow a thoroughly deserved second half lead with 20 minutes remaining.
The Wolf pack was dominant, with front row trio Andy Vassell, Jed Hill and Steve Mannion bossing the scrums and Alex McLennan and Jamie Fletcher commanding the lineouts.
Will Hitch worked hard on the flank supporting Chris Jones making hard yards up the middle. Hargreaves sniped and McCallum used the second half wind intelligently.
But two Caldy tries in the middle of the second half killed off Wilmslow's prospects of a win, and a last-minute try by centre James Keep converted by McCallum was just not enough.
Wilmslow's Second Team won 50-5 against Blackburn, the Thirds beat Crewe and Nantwich 24-7 and the Veterans beat Trafford Metrovick 12-3.
