Match Report – Caldy 13 – Sale FC 9

The biggest rugby match between two Cheshire clubs this century was eventually won by the boot of National One’s leading points scorer Ben Jones. With Sale defending a slender 9-7 lead for virtually all of the second half it looked as though the National One title was destined to go to the Manchester club until Jones held his nerve to kick two penalties in the final minutes to give Caldy the win, the title and promotion into the Championship.

But it was oh so tight as Caldy’s Head coach Matt Cairns acknowledged.

“It was a nervy affair between two teams who were desperate not to lose. Our defence and forward power won it for us, but the game could have gone either way. Sale came at us full throttle in the first half and only our outstanding defence prevented what looked like two certain tries. Those defensive sets were pivotal”

In front of 3,000 spectators, Sale dominated the early exchanges as its back line stretched Caldy wide with a series of missed passes from stand off Robins, giving opportunities for their pacy wingers. A couple of attacks by the visitors seemed destined to provide them with scores until last ditch, pile driving tackles by Caldy flanker Callum Ridgway, and second row Sam Dickinson stopped Sale dead in their tracks.

Sale could not break through or go round Caldy and eventually settled for six points from the boot of James Robins. It took a good 20 minutes before the home side got a real foothold in the game. A huge touch finding penalty from stand off Ezra Hinchcliffe put Caldy 5 metres from the Sale line and after the Sale prop was yellow carded for sacking the maul, Caldy’s forward dominance saw them power over, giving Adam Aigbokhae the score.

The strength of Caldy’s pack was pulverising Sale in the tight exchanges, with heavy carries by Harrison Crowe, Sam Dickinson, and Tom Sanders having a cumulative and percussive effect. Live wire scrum half Joe Murray took advantage of Sale’s fatigue to break clear. Evading a couple of tackles the number 9 was only brought down inches from the line. The first half ended with the home side having the smallest of advantages at 7-6.

When Sale’s James Robins struck again early in the second half to make it 7-9 it looked like Sale may just be getting the better of the ‘Ravers’. However, it was Caldy that went on to dominate the next 30 minutes but without being able to score.

As this attritional game was entering the final ten minutes there was a sense that one spark could win the game for either side. An enterprising move by Sale was thwarted by a thunderous hit by Caldy centre Mike Cartmill and when winger Nick Royle got the break the home support had been praying for, his chip and chase was only scuppered by an unkind bounce of the ball.

Finally, the home side was awarded a penalty kick some thirty-five metres out. When the normally reliable Ben Jones pulled the attempt wide it looked as though the opportunity may have gone for Caldy. However, with only 3 minutes to go Caldy had a further penalty awarded. Much further out and with a more difficult angle it was a brave call by Caldy captain JJ Dickinson to ask his kicker to make the attempt rather than opt for a touch kick and line out opportunity.

Caldy’s nerveless Ben Jones stepped up to slot home a monster fifty metre penalty to push Caldy into the lead 10-9. One minute later Jones kicked another penalty to cement the lead 13-9 and signalling both the end of the game and crazy scenes at Caldy’s Paton Field.

The final score Caldy 13 – Sale 9 sends Caldy into the Rugby Championship where next season it will be an endless series of David v Goliath challenges for the smallest rugby club ever to play in the Championship.