Preston Grasshoppers 25 Caldy 56
9:00am Tuesday 12th February 2008
Once again Hoppers' defence was found wanting as for the second successive league game they conceded nine tries.
The slide down the table has now reached critical proportions - they drop from 6th to 11th - and, unless they can stop the rot soon, they will be staring possible relegation in the face.
Unlike at Rugby two weeks ago when Hoppers started brightly before imploding, Caldy's strong running backs touched down twice in the first four minutes to take a 12-0 lead.
Hoppers attempted to steady the ship and two minutes later Gerhard Boshoff put them on the scoreboard with a penalty but this was cancelled out almost immediately when offside at a ruck gifted the visitors three points.
The home side at last enjoyed some possession but debutant lock Mike Walker-Fitton was yellow carded on 21 minutes and Caldy took advantage with a strong forward drive and when the ball was released centre Woof found the gap for a converted try.
Hoppers could well have lost touch but, after firing a penalty wide, Boshoff chipped ahead to set up an attacking position and this time it was away centre Woof who ended up in the sin bin, Boshoff clawing back three points.
The home pack then mounted a concerted attack and, as they piled over the line, Glyn Dewhurst claimed the touchdown. Boshoff's touchline conversion made it 13-22 at the break to put his side back in the fray.
But any hopes of a revival were dashed two minutes into the restart, when from a turnover in midfield, wing Ross kicked ahead and Olly Viney was adjudged to have obstructed in the chase and the referee was under the sticks for a try, duly converted.
More loose defence from the home side then let in full back Wylie for a try to stretch the lead to 36-13.
To their credit Hoppers did not give up and produced a fine try on the counter attack.
Viney fielded the ball deep and at last managed to elude the defence with a scintillating outside break and flanker Michael Jones, up in support, sprinted in from halfway for Boshoff to convert from wide out.
Again Caldy were quick to hit back and took advantage of some slack defence by running in four tries in the next nine minutes, putting the result beyond doubt.
All too late Hoppers pack, refreshed with new legs from the bench, put their opponents under pressure and after some strong driving, Walker-Fitton managed to break off to dot the ball down in the corner.
With the pressure mounting, the remaining eight games are critical, none more so than away to bottom-but-one club Morley on Saturday.