Friday Feeling – 17th December 2021

Tomorrow it is Sale! 

That and Sale’s updated and hugely important Covid precautions https://www.salefc.com/updated-guidance-for-saturday-sale-fc-vs-caldy for the 2.30 game at Heywood Road is all that Caldy supporters really need to know this Friday, but of course such brevity is unlikely to engender a Friday Feeling.

There have been six league matches between Sale and Caldy in recent years. Four were in National 2 North culminating in that historic and pulsating 28-26 win at Paton Field in April 2017 which promoted Caldy into National 1 as Champions. For those that do not remember that far back, Caldy were 6-23 down at half time and facing heartbreak. A second half resurgence sparked by a try from Nick Royle led Caldy to their most famous win in front of a crowd of 1,500 supporters.

However, since that time Sale have had the edge over Caldy.

Both National 1 encounters have been won by Sale with small margins, 26-24 at Heywood Road in September 2018 and 23-20 at Paton Field in December 2018. 

Sale who sit in 2^nd place in National 1 are the league’s form side with a run of six straight wins since their narrow away loss against Rosslyn Park in October.

Accordingly, Sale will go into tomorrow’s game as favourites, perhaps even as strong favourites if the pundits on the ‘Rolling Maul’ forum are to be believed. However knowledgeable Caldy supporters know better than to take any regard of the musings of anonymous posters on ‘Rolling Maul’.

In 2016, Caldy’s forthcoming match against Sale at Heywood Road was much hyped on the forum by Sale zealot, ‘Sharky’. Sharky was certain that Sale would eviscerate Caldy at Heywood Road, and he crowed and trumpeted his conviction in scores of inflammatory postings. So much so that the big fish suckered occasional Caldy poster ‘Big Eddie’ into a wager.

A large donation to charity by Big Eddie if Sale won, but if the impossible happened and Caldy somehow fluked a victory Sharky would allow Big Eddie to shave off Sharky’s golden locks in front of a crowded Heywood Road bar. 

This was in preference to Sharky’s previous offer to have Caldy’s shield tattooed on to his fully shaven chest. Sharky bailed out of this original offer on the grounds that his wife could not countenance embracing the Caldy shield as she was sure it would forever spoil intimate moments of passion.

With much hype and banter the revised wager was agreed. 

Big Eddie chose his ‘clippers’ carefully. Precision, finesse, and sharpness were not important, the clippers just had to be capable of quickly gouging out large clumps of hair/scalp without any skill, training or sobriety being required. However as always safety was an important consideration so thick gloves were to be worn to ensure Big Eddie did not inadvertently stab himself.

It wasn’t a close game, playing some brilliant rugby Caldy raced into a 30-point lead which they never relinquished. A doughty and resilient Sale clawed back some respectability with a late flourish, but the game ended 26-38 in favour of Caldy.

Unfortunately, the ‘Sharky Shearing’ never happened. An inebriated but jubilant Big Eddie searched Heywood Road for Sharky, but he was not to be found. From the description that Sharky had given himself on Rolling Maul he should have been highly visible. 6 ft 6 inches tall with long thick blond hair wearing a Sale top, how could you miss him?

It probably wasn’t surprising that the big fish had slunk off before his forfeit could be carried out. 

What was more surprising was the revelation that Sharky’s name was Richard, he lived on the Wirral and was 6ft 7 inches tall rather than 6ft 6in. It still puzzles everyone that Richard supports Sale in preference to Caldy.

Everyone stay safe and please take heed of Sale’s very important Covid protocols https://www.salefc.com/updated-guidance-for-saturday-sale-fc-vs-caldy

Head Coach Matt Cairns has selected the following squad for the away match against Sale FC which kicks off at 2.30 p.m. at Heywood Road

1.Aigbokhae 2. Hearn 3. Rushton 4. Dickinson S 5. Sanders T 6. Crowe 7. Ridgway 8. Dickinson JJ 9. Murray 10. Hinchcliffe 11. Cartmill 12. Barlow 13. Titherington 14. Jones B 15. Gourlay 16. Sanders Joe 17. Clarke 18. Jones D 19. Gerrard 20. Royle

Caldy’s record breaking 2^nd xv are playing third placed Preston Grasshoppers at Paton Field with a 12.30 kick off. Covid restrictions apply!