Rugby: Vagabonds Ladies aiming to go second in the table

Douglas hoping to maintain momentum at Vale of Lune

Report by Dave Christian:

In Womens NC1 North West Vagabonds head to Chester Devas for a second v third contest. The Devas won by three points in the earlier fixture and Vagas will want a better result for the away leg and could take that second place with the right result.

With two games to come against Halifax and one against bottom side Leigh, Vagas have a really good chance.

There were no reported injury concerns following the last match - Daisee Sewell had a bang to the nose but nothing too serious and Clara Townsin took a first half knock but should be OK for this one.

Douglas away at Vale of Lune

After a morale boosting win last week Douglas hit the road again , this time to Lancaster where they meet Vale of Lune in Regional 2 North West.

Vale have won eight from 18 this season while Douglas are five from 19 so the gap isn’t that big and a quick look at previous meetings shows that while Vale are ahead 5 wins to 2, the points margin over those seven meetings is only 40 points. The earlier game this season was a 24-11 win for Vale back in September - all this suggests a close game.

Douglas coach Phil Cringle picked himself to start last week and it paid off. He scored the bonus point try. That kind of effort should really inspire the rest of the squad and some points from this game are a distinct possibility. 

Douglas’ nearest rivals below them are Broughton Park and Wilmslow who play each other on Saturday.

Ramsey face Nomads in Ravenscroft Manx Shield play-off

With the return of the 6 Nations this weekend was scheduled as a free week in domestic rugby however some unfinished business from earlier in the season has reared its head and we have Ramsey and Southern Nomads facing off in a rare Manx Shield play off.

Play-offs are usually held when two teams are tied at the top of the standings however this has been an unusual season and the Manx Executive Committee have taken some unusual steps. As all clubs get to grips with smaller squads, the Manx Shield competition was guillotined just after Christmas following a spate of walkovers. 

That left a partially completed competition and with Ramsey & Southern Nomads (and their respective Reds, Blues, Greens and Whites) occupying the top four places when the axe came down, the committee determined that a one-off play-off game at a neutral venue would be held to decide the outcome of the comp. 

This takes place on Saturday at Douglas’ Port-e-Chee ground kicking off at 2.15pm.

On paper, Ramsey, must start as favourites. Starting as a genuine first team they’ve lost just once this season, away at Hoylake in the Cheshire Bowl. Nomads gave them a good game at the Mooragh in the same competition but the men in Red have been otherwise impeccable. 

Ramsey however have a few cracks appearing. With Tom Moffatt out long term, Conor Goodall on holiday and Dan Bonwick gone to Vagabonds, Ramsey are missing a fly-half. Dan Richmond filled in well last week and could be a good shout for a start and rumours abound that Fintan Cummins may be making a comeback.

Nomads do have a ten though in the experienced shape of Mark Young and if anything can be exploited Young and half back partner George Callister will do it. Tony Quinn and Tom Collister both have pace out wide and with the redoubtable Orry Watterson on duty somewhere in the pack, Nomads definitely have the right players to give this one a real go.