Rugby: Southern Nomads face tough Cheshire Bowl trip to Hoylake

Douglas' away tie at Vale of Lune postponed 

Report by Dave Christian:

As 2022 draws to a close there’s no rugby action on-Island, which to be fair, given the state of the ground is probably not a bad thing. Douglas were due to play away in Regional North West 2 at Vale of Lune but Vale’s pitch is rock solid with little chance of defrosting so that game has been postponed until February 2023.

This just leaves PDMS Southern Nomads who head to Hoylake this weekend for their Cheshire Bowl tie which was postponed from earlier in the season when Nomads experienced some travelling difficulties. It looks like Nomads will have their work cut out though as Hoylake are currently flying.

Hoylake play in Counties 3 ADM Lancs/Cheshire which is the same league as Vagabonds. They’re currently top after ten matches and have amassed a total of forty six points from a maximum of fifty. The Cheshire Bowl is a mini league based competition which saw Hoylake pitted against Nomads but also Ramsey and Ellesmere Port. They’ve won both of their other games already and are sitting pretty at the top of this table too.

Whatever the result this week, Nomads will be unable to qualify having already lost at Ramsey and Ellesmere Port. They could however do Ramsey a massive, if improbable, favour. A Nomads win by forty points or more with no bonus points for Hoylake could see Ramsey sneak through to the February final.

On paper, its possible. Nomads have a talented and fast young back line. Tony Quinn, Will Taisia et al are a hugely capable unit which will give most defences problems. The difficulty they’ll face is playing a hard-nosed pack of experienced forwards on what is likely to be a soft pitch, assuming it thaws. Nomads do have experience in their forwards but will miss the combative Orry Watterson who has picked up a knee injury which could see him out of the season.

Nomads are carrying the flag in this game and while we wish them well in their endeavours, I don’t think Ramsey will be making any firm travel plans for February.

**

Fixtures 17 December

Regional North West 2

Vale of Lune p-p Douglas

Cheshire Bowl

Hoylake v PDMS Southern Nomads @ Hoylake ko 1.00pm