Rugby: Douglas prepare to host Winnington Park

Manx Cup & Shield double-header beckons at Ballakilley Park

Report by Dave Christian:

Douglas take to the field at Port-e-Chee for their penultimate Regional 2 North West game of the 24/25 season with Winnington Park the visitors. 

Douglas are chasing a possible sixth place finish which would be their highest at this level and will be chasing maximum points. 

Winnington Park however are flirting with the dreaded drop zone and while they’re in a stronger position than the two below them, some extra points would be a useful comfort blanket.

Douglas continue to miss prop Simon Hoddinott but aside from that are relatively injury free. 

Owen Carvin, Ralph Clarke and Phil Cringle are all able to fill in the front row spots alongside hooker Gihard Visagie; the back row too looks to have a full complement available and out wide the Martin twins Craig and Kyle could take the field together for the first time at Port-e-Chee this season.

Douglas won 40-10 at Winnington Park and should do a similar job at home.

Penultimate away trip for Vagabonds men

'Vagas' head to Dukinfield this week for their penultimate away trip but perhaps also their last realistic chance of picking up some points in counties 3 ADM Lancs/Cheshire. 

Dukinfield sit just above Vagabonds in the standings with five wins from 18 outings - Vagabonds can’t catch them in the table but with three wins from 19 outings their playing record isn’t too dissimilar and of course Vagabonds won the Ballafletcher leg 29-15 last month.

Thankfully there was no news of any additional injuries last weekend however the away trip means its likely that some of the remaining squad won’t be able to make it. 

While they lost last week against Ashton-Under-Lyne, they did manage two tries via Matt Rockwell and Ollie Howard and the ability to score even when under the cosh is a green shoot that’s worth cultivating.

After this the remaining two games are against fifth place Colne & Nelson and promotion chasers De La Salle. 

Dukinfield away is a difficult place to win, but if 'Vagas' can recover some of those injured bodies there’s no reason why they can’t pick up some points from this trip.

Nomads and Ramsey clash in Cup/Shield double-header

The game was initially scheduled as a Manx Shield tie but with available weeks starting to look scare, both clubs have agreed that the result will stand for their Manx Cup tie as well. 

Ramsey have won all the competitive meets so far this season although Nomads did nick a result in a January friendly. 

With much riding on this match its likely that both sides will be at full strength and picking a potential winner is going to be tricky.

Ramsey have the recent pedigree and some exciting young players - Jake Richmond in the centre is a real live wire, Josh Corteen in the back row is powerful and athletic and Brandon Atchison is a proven try scorer. 

With this kind of calibre of player Ramsey must start as favourites. 

Nomads however have some talent of their own - Tony Quinn out wide is a proper racing snake given a bit of space; Will Taisia adds power up the middle and can cover at full back too, plus the Craine brothers Rob and Mike are constant threats.

This should be a tight game at the 'Field of Dreams' and could go either way.

**

Fixtures

Saturday, 22 March 2025

Regional 2 North West

Douglas v Winnington Park @ Port-e-Chee (2pm KO)

Counties 3 ADM Lancs/Cheshire

Dukinfield v Vagabonds @ Dukinfield (1pm KO)

Manx Cup/Manx Shield

PDMS Southern Nomads v Ramsey @ Ballakilley Park (2.15pm KO)