DESPITE a promising first half Sale could not hold onto their half time lead and lost a committed encounter 28-18 against Caldy, at a rainy and windy Birkenhead Park as the Wirral club reclaimed the Cheshire Cup.

Sale started well when Henry Platt gained possession at a Caldy lineout taking play to half way before quick ball down the backs saw Jack Moorhouse race in for the opening try on four minutes. Liam McGovern put in a fine low trajectory conversion from wide out against a strong wind for a 7-0 lead.

Caldy came back strongly and on fourteen minutes narrowed the gap to four points with a penalty from Gavin Roberts after Sale were caught offside.

Fine combination play by Ciaran Connolly, Chris Mayor and Moorhouse took play into the Caldy 22 but the promising move eventually broke down.

Sale had a chance of points at the end of the first quarter but McGovern’s kick failed to go over and within five minutes Caldy had narrowed the gap to a single point with a second penalty from Roberts.

The Wirral side made it a one point lead with a third penalty from Roberts with three minutes of the half remaining before Collister was yellow carded and McGovern edged Sale out to 13-9 at half time.

The pattern of play remained much the same in the second half until Sale’s Adam Aigbokhae was yellow carded on 52 minutes and with the man advantage Caldy gained the ascendancy.

Three tries in the space of 10 minutes either side of the hour mark two of which were converted by Roberts, gave the Wirral side a 15-point lead.

Despite the deficit Sale never capitulated and with four minutes remaining excellent work by the pack saw HenryPlatt driven over for a try, but in the end the Caldy performance on the day made them deserved winners of the Cheshire Cup.