Rugby: Douglas to welcome league leaders to Port-e-Chee

Vagabonds to begin 2025 at home to Orrell

Report by Dave Christian:

Sandback visit Port-e-Chee this Saturday after moving into pole position last week in Regional 2 North West. 

To be fair to all concerned they’re top by virtue of superior points difference and their co-leaders Firwood Waterloo have two games in hand, but let’s not spoil the Sandbach party.

The two sides have only met once before and that was earlier this season with Sandbach claiming a 50-21 win. 

Douglas have however come on leaps and bounds since then and with home advantage should give a good account of themselves.

There’s a possibility that Bryn Snellgrove will be available and with their little general at the helm, they will be tough to crack at home. 

Sam McCord continues to be the Douglas main strike runner and new flanker Blake Everson has been impressive since his move.

Expect a closer game than 50-21 but Douglas will need to be at their best to maintain their run of home wins.

Vagabonds get 2025 underway

After a frozen pitch at Ashton-Under-Lyne last week caused a postponement 'Vagas' finally get 2025 underway when bottom club Orrell are the visitors to Ballafletcher this Saturday in Counties 3 ADM Lancs/Cheshire.

'Vagas' are just above Orrell in the standings however the Wigan outfit have won two from eleven thus far and are only bottom because of a ten championship points deduction. 

Their two wins came against 'Vagabonds and Ormskirk and the Vagabonds result at Orrell was just 25-20 - with home advantage on the cards this weekend could see 'Vagas' record their first win of the season.

The two sides have met seven times previously in the Leagues with Orrell leading the win chart seven to five. 

However a closer look reveals that apart from the 25-20 win for Orrell earlier this season, they haven’t met competitively since 2018 and both teams have changed significantly since then.

Vagas have the players to pull off the win - they’re strong up front and there’s some real pace in the back line. 

Cam Findlay and Dan Bonwick can both kick their goals too, the side however haven’t as yet been quite able to string things together and certainly haven’t crossed the opposition line anywhere near enough. 

This might just be their weekend though.

Ten-a-side for domestic rugby

To ease into the business part of 2025 the local sides are due to play ten aside fixtures at Ramsey’s Mooragh Park starting at 2.15pm. 

Games will be played across the field rather than the full pitch. 

Fifteen aside games are due to start on 18 January.

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