Rugby: Third time lucky for Douglas vs Eccles?

Big double-header also on the cards at Ballafletcher

Report by Dave Christian:

After two weather postponements Douglas face Eccles at Port-e-Chee this Saturday in Regional 2 North West and will be hoping that the weather gods are for once on their side. 

Eccles are in bottom spot in the standings with just two wins from 14 outings, Douglas are six from 16 and have a possible top five finish in their sights.

Good news for Douglas this week is the return of influential prop forward Simon Hoddinott who has been missing for two games. 

Also returning are Nathan Robson and Mark Oldfield who both withdrew last Saturday at short notice with man-flu, a condition more serious than hurty knee! 

Both have now recovered and are likely to play some part in the matchday squad, the form of their cover players Kyle Martin and Blake Everson will however cause a headache for the selectors.

Home advantage will count for a lot here and with their nearest rivals Altrincham Kersal and Widnes facing each other next Saturday, coach Phil Cringle will know this is time to make hay.

Big double-header at Vagabonds

There’s a proper rugby feast at Ballafletcher this Saturday with both Vagabonds Ladies and Men's teams in action and of course all the best from the Six Nations in the clubhouse afterwards.

'Vagas' Ladies get the ball rolling with a very early 11.45am kick off against Winnington Park in Womens NC2 North (South). 

Winnington lie in second place but only on points difference from Eccles, Vagabonds are fourth but aren’t a million miles away from the top three and while the odds are against it, they could still mathematically take a promotion place. 

They lost by only eleven points in the away leg and will be bolstered by that performance, especially with home advantage.

Vagabonds lost out to the league leaders Eccles by just three points on 18 January and a couple of weeks earlier they went down at home to Leigh by just two, the whole squad will know that tight results like this mean they’re very close to turning a corner.

The key ingredients are all there - a front five which wins ball, a back line capable of finding the gaps in a defence and a back row that is destructive in both defence and attack. 

Maylyn Campbell is obviously a key player for them but in the Leigh defeat Becky Dunne and Leona McGovern in the back line created so much with their passing game, a big crowd and home advantage will make all the difference for them this week.

At 1.15pm the men will trot out to face Dukinfield in Counties 3 ADM Lancs/Cheshire, 'Vagas' are eleventh with two wins from 13 outings, Dukinfield were the early whipping boys and while they recorded a walkover win in week one, their first win on the field wasn’t until 14 December. 

Since then, they’ve picked up the pace and currently lie in ninth with four wins from 13.

The two clubs are no strangers to each other with RFU stats showing that they’ve met 24 times over the years with 'Vagas' currently leading the stats battle 12-11, although the last three meetings have all gone Dukinfield’s way.

Vagabonds have something of a grueling run-in to the end of the season and injury cracks are already appearing. 

Mitch Wells remains out and is joined on the sick list by Archie Benson (knee) and Leo Marques (cheek), this however is a game which coach Franzy Germishuys will want to win and Tom Gascoyne could well return to either back row or centre to help cover.

The big crowd and carnival atmosphere at Ballafletcher should help the men as well as then women.

Ten-a-side at Ballakilley

The IOM Ten aside should get underway this weekend at Ballakilley Park, Port Erin where Southern Nomads will host Western Vikings and Ramsey in mini round-robin competition. 

With domestic rugby still suffering post-covid the ten-a-side is intended to keep some rugby going but in a format which may make it a little more interesting to the players, there’s no set playing order but the action is expected to get underway at 2.15pm.

**

Fixtures Saturday, 8 February 2025

Regional 2 North West

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

Counties 3 ADM Lancs/Cheshire

Vagabonds v Dukinfield @ Ballafletcher (1.15pm KO)

Womens NC2 North (South)

Vagabonds v Winnington Park @ Ballafletcher (11.45am KO)

IOM Rugby Ten Aside

Southern Nomads v Ramsey v Western Vikings @ Ballakilley (2.15pm KO)