Rugby: Vagas ladies aiming for third in final game of season

Pivotal third round of Manx Cup awaits this weekend

Report by Dave Christian:

It’s the final outing of the season for Vagas Ladies this weekend as they hit the road to Halifax knowing that an away win will secure them third place in Women's NC1 North West. The trip also marks the end of an era for Vagas Ladies with veteran forward Corrina Daly rumoured to be hanging up her boots after the game.

Halifax are currently in third place in the standings but there’s just three points separating them from Vagas. Halifax are however no pushovers and won the reverse fixture at Ballafletcher 39-22. The versatile Daly gets the nod in the front row this week alongside Jess Swales and Maisie Murray. The rest of the pack remains unchanged from their last outing. There’s some reshuffling in the back line though. Jo McCabe comes in at scrum half with Sammie MacDonald replacing Chloe Dillon on the wing. There’s also a strong bench with Nat Bush and Hayley Coutts set to add some extra power at the end.

Vagas are capable of taking this and will definitely want a memorable finale for Daly who together with her sister Jackie gave Vagas a formidable pack over the last decade.

D-Day in Ravenscroft Manx Cup

Its round three of the Ravenscroft Manx Cup this weekend and the results will determine who will play off for the Manx Cup and Plate on finals day which is 22 April. All four teams are mathematically capable of booking a cup berth so it’s a real nail biter of a weekend.

The pre-tournament favourites are without doubt Douglas. They’ve won two from two and top the table. Just a single point from their game at Vagabonds on Saturday will be enough to see them through regardless of other results. Southern Nomads chances are also reasonably clear. They must beat Ramsey in their final game and score four or more tries. They also have to prevent Ramsey from scoring four tries or finishing within seven points as either would give Ramsey a bonus point or points. They also need Douglas to beat Vagabonds with the latter picking up no bonus points. For Ramsey and Vagabonds, the permutations are a little more complicated and there are a number of scenarios where either could get a place in the final depending on the result of the other game.

As expected, Douglas are the side to beat. They play at level six in the English Rugby pyramid and while their form hasn’t been brilliant, the extra physicality they bring to the pitch has been more than a match for Ramsey and Southern Nomads. They’ve been able to rest some of their key players too with Bryn Snellgrove, Guy Wood and Niall Killey all settling for back up or cameo roles. John Dutnall has led the side well on the field and Brendan Kelly has stepped up to the mark in the centre too. Vagas have their own talent mind. Mark Oldfield is a proper warrior and the front five is pretty solid in the set piece. Douglas will have to work to grind them down but on paper, should win. This is the Isle of Man “old firm” though and could put an extra spring in the Vagabond step.

At Ballakilley Southern Nomads will host Ramsey. Nomads ran Ramsey pretty close in a Cheshire Bowl game earlier in the season and won’t be at all swayed by the game. They’re solid but mobile in the forwards and have some talented back line runners. Orry Watterson will no doubt be putting in the hard yards in the pack with George Callister at nine trying to free up his backs. Ramsey have a few injuries worries. Dan Richmond and Kieran Kneale remain on the sick list and Nathan Robson isn’t available. Raf Sinadjan may get the nod at nine and Fintan Cummins and Nathan Brew will probably link up at ten/twelve which proved so effective in the win against Vagabonds. On paper this should be a Ramsey win but rule out Nomads at your peril. They have a big game in them yet this season.

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