Rugby: Douglas welcome Rochdale to Port-e-Chee

Final round of Ravenscroft Manx Shield this week

Report by Dave Christian:

Douglas welcome fifth place Rochdale to Port-e-Chee this Saturday in their final home game of 2022.

Douglas’ position in Regional 2 North West is far from secure, however two recent wins have given a genuine cause for optimism among the Port-e-Chee faithful.

Rochdale however have won 8 from 12 and are in with a very real chance of a top two finish and they won’t be taking this game as an easy win. Rochdale won the reverse fixture 34-19 but have also lost away at Vale of Lune and were taken to within a point by Altrincham Kersal which all suggests that they’re not perhaps as consistent as they’d like to be.

As ever at this stage of the season injury management can be difficult and Douglas have knocks to Owen Carvin and Bradley Bowmar to look after. Ralph Clarke made a cameo at Ramsey last Saturday so could be a natural replacement for Carvin while in the back line the selectors have a few choices and combinations to play with.

Dukinfield visit Vagabonds

Vagas final league match of 2022 is at Ballafletcher this weekend when they take on Dukinfield in Counties 3 ADM Lancs/Cheshire. Vagas are in the midst of a fairly lean spell and could really do with some points from this game. They currently sit bottom of the table and are eight points adrift of their nearest rivals Port Sunlight. This week Sunlight take on third place Garstang so assuming that goes with the form book, Vagas could close the gap.

Dukinfield however are fifth and have won five from nine and have a game in hand. Two five pointers from these could lift them to third and give them an outside chance of promotion. They did however beat Vagas 46-5 in the earlier game, which means that if championship points are to be collected, Vagas will have to work for them.

Vagas have appointed the hugely respected Franzy Germishuys as coach in the last ten days and while Franzy no doubt has his work cut out, he also has the nous and experience to get them through this sticky patch. There are definitely players at Ballafletcher who have what it takes. Cal Donnell has looked good with ball in hand, Joe Louw is a solid scrummager and a wrecking ball going forward and a back row with Ross Pulman and Mark Oldfield in it will be a nuisance for any opposition. All hands will be needed on the pump though if they want to turn this season around.

Final round of Ravenscroft Manx Shield

Its also the final round of the Manx Shield ahead of the Christmas break and some format changes for 2023.

Leaders Nomads Whites take on Western Vikings at Ballakilley. Nomads found a new star last Saturday in Jack Wallis who bagged three tries on his debut. They’re in a pretty strong position at the top of the table. Vikings played the Greens a couple of weeks ago though and were very competitive. A couple of yellow cards made a big dent in the scoreboard from which they never really recovered however on their day, they could give the Whites a test.

Just up the road at Poulsom Park, Castletown host Ramsey’s Blues. If the Blues can get the same fifteen which beat their own Reds last week, they should take the points here. The Blues did however lose Dan Richmond to an ankle injury and may need a rethink at halfback. Town meanwhile have struggled a little for numbers in the past two weeks and may do again with the party season in full flow.

Finally, at Mooragh Park, Ramsey’s Reds face the Eastern Barbarians. Like Castletown, the Barbarians have struggled player wise and may do again. The Reds last week did very little wrong but a few unforced handling errors gifted points to the Blues and this ultimately cost them the game. Skipper Matt Meechan and full back Luke Ward bagged two each last time out and their form should be enough to take maximum points.

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Fixtures - 10 December 2022

Regional 2 North West

Douglas v Rochdale @ Port-e-Chee ko 2.15pm

Counties 3 ADM Lancs/Cheshire

Vagabonds v Dukinfield @ Ballafletcher ko 1.00pm

Ravenscroft Manx Shield all ko @ 2.15pm

Castletown AWO Ramsey Blues

Nomads Whites v Western Vikings @ Ballakilley Park

Ramsey Reds v Eastern Barbarians @ Mooragh Park