Rugby: Douglas to welcome Altrincham Kersal to Port-e-Chee

Vagabonds Ladies on the road at league leaders (Fixtures: 19-20 Oct)

Report by Dave Christian:

With no points separating the two sides in the Regional 2 North West standings, Saturday’s clash at Port-e-Chee should be a cracker.

Douglas look to welcome back the influential Liam Kirkpatrick and with Mark Oldfield and Percy Hampton both facing fitness tests its not a moment too soon for the back row, new signing Nathan Robson could make his home debut at scrum half.

The two sides have met ten times previously with Kersal 6-3 ahead on the win rate, they’ve lost two from five so far this season but these were against the bigger guns at the sharp end of the table and they could therefore prove a handful for Douglas.

Vagabonds’ men search for elusive win

Vagas head to Fleetwood this weekend looking to get their opening win of the season. 

Played five – lost five isn’t a good look in the standings and Fleetwood’s three from five record suggests that this week may not be the one, the two sides have met just twice according to RFU stats however the most recent meeting was in 1999 which will probably be before some of the current squad were actually born.

Results aside the team hasn’t really played that badly - the front five is competitive and a back line which includes Dan Bonwick, Cam Findlay and Cal Donnell among others, is easily capable of crossing the try line. 

They have however been leaking early tries both home and away which means the remainder of the game is a catch-up scenario.

A full strength side will give Fleetwood some problems but away travel is notoriously difficult and getting the best team away is a rarity.

Vagas Ladies visit league leaders

After pulling off their first won last week Vagas Ladies reach for the stars with a trip to table topping Winnington Park in Womens NC2 North (South). 

Winnington have maximum points after three games and have only conceded twelve points in the process, this will be a big step up for Vagas.

Team news is a bit sketch for the Ladies this week however we do know that their big players are all available. 

Maylynn Campbell and Sophie Henry put in huge shifts in the back row last week and seeing those names on the teamsheet will be a boost for the rest of the squad; Bliss Murtagh will remain at full back and Leona McGovern will start in the ten jersey. 

Vagas will take the opportunity to get a new player in too and this well with Megan Kerwin making her debut.

There’s no form to judge the two sides on but the early league form for Winnington Park suggests that this will be a tricky trip for Vagabonds.