Rugby: Douglas welcome Northwich to Port-e-Chee

Ramsey host Southern Nomads in Manx Shield

Report by Dave Christian:

In Regional 2 North West Douglas entertain Northwich at Port-e-Chee and will look to repeat some of the recent home form which has won them their last two fixtures at Port-e-Chee. 

Some players will return to the squad for the game and this brings some optimism ahead of the fixture, the two have met eleven times previously however Northwich lead the stats 9-2 but have only won once away from home this season. 

They sit in eleventh place in the standings, five points adrift of Douglas.

The returning players could be the difference for Douglas - Ralph Clark and Gihard Visagie return in the front row; Liam Kirkpatrick in the back row and Sam McCord in the back line; Bryn Snellgrove and Rich Bell are also expected back too which means Douglas could be beefed up throughout the team.

On paper this looks like Douglas should take the win but as can be seen historically, Northwich are no pushovers.

Vagas travel to Clitheroe

Forty minutes of dogged defending and attacking last Saturday saw Vagas beating Bury at the break. 

A second half littered with injuries however saw the game slip away from them, this week they face a trip to Clitheroe and aren’t sure who will or won’t be available. 

Dan Bonwick and Will Spurway both had head knocks last week and will be doubtful however there were some regulars missing from the Bury squad and some positive news from them may give a boost.

Clitheroe lie sixth in the Counties 3 ADM standings - they’ve won four from six and held Bury to a one point defeat plus they beat Fleetwood at Fleetwood where Vagas got a bit of a mauling a few weeks back. 

The two sides have never met before in league competition so there’s no historical form to gauge them with, Clitheroe are however on a winning streak while Vagas are quite the opposite.

Some of the missing players returning would be a great start for the Vagas coaching team. 

Mitch Wells, Archie Benson, Cal Donnell and Cam Findlay were all absent last week and if available they’d be ideal to help cover any gaps left by Bonwick, Spurway and also Rob Pease who limped off last Saturday. 

The contraction of the leagues at the end of last season hasn’t dealt Vagas a good hand they’re due a bit of luck at some stage.

Depending on availability and injury their luck may come this week however on form it seems unlikely.

Ramsey host Southern Nomads in Manx Shield

Away from the leagues, the Manx Shield meet between Ramsey and Nomads is likely to be a close run affair. 

Both have gone well in Cheshire this season and the last meet down at Ballakilley saw Nomads just lose out 24-30, this augurs well for the rematch.

Ramsey were missing a few regulars for the first game at Ballakilley but should be back to full strength for this game - Ben Hardman, skipper Matt Meechan and back row Conor Cracknell all missed out last time; Jake Richmond was missing from the centres and points machine Brandon Atchison was also missing. 

Ramsey had a week off last week and other than Kieran Kneale’s wrist injury, have no personnel concerns; Tom Moffatt is also back from a long term absence and has lost none of his touch.

Nomads just edged past Western Vikings in the Cheshire Bowl, the win however puts them in a commanding position and they should pick up a place in the final later this season. 

The two danger men last time around were the Craine brothers Mikey and Rob, they bagged three tries between them and Ramsey had no answer when the ball was moved to the wide channels.

Expect a tight game at the Mooragh.

**

Fixtures (Saturday, 9 November 2024)

Regional 2 North West

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

Counties 3 ADM Lancs/Cheshire

Clitheroe v Vagabonds @ Clitheroe (KO TBC)

Manx Shield

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

Friendly U13

Ramsey v Southern Nomads @ Mooragh Park (1.30pm KO)