Rugby: Douglas to host Liverpool St Helens

Junior & Senior friendlies also on Island this weekend

Report by Dave Christian:

It's been a few years since Ray French and Liverpool St Helens dropped in, but there’ll be a warm welcome at Port-e-Chee. 

The visitors may have lost their opening two matches to prop up the bottom of the league table, but one was against the surprise package so far in Crewe & Nantwich and the other versus promotion candidates Bowdon.

Douglas will feel short changed with two losing bonus points, but as players are introduced to the Douglas way and others return from injury, momentum will build. 

Please note the early 1pm kick-off to allow players and referee to catch the return Saturday flight. 

Meanwhile, there's mixture of Junior and Senior rugby on Island this weekend outside the English Clubs Championship. 

The stars of the future take to the field at under 16 level while there's also a Senior Friendly at Ballafletcher where Vagabonds build of for the start of their league matches.

Everything starts at Ramsey on Saturday morning where Ramsey's under 16 team takes on Lymm. 

On Saturday afternoon Vagabonds will take on an Isle of Man Barbarian side as preparation for their league opener at Ellesmere Port next weekend. 

Finally on Sunday morning Vagabonds under 16 host Lymm at Ballafletcher.

**

Fixtures 16/17September

Saturday 16 September

Regional 2 North West

Douglas v Liverpool St Helens @ Port-e-Chee (1pm KO)

Friendlies

Ramsey U16 v Lymm U16 @ Mooragh Park (10.30am KO)

Vagabonds v IOM Barbarians @ Ballafletcher (2.15pm KO)

Sunday 17 September

Friendly

Vagabonds U16 v Lymm U16 @ Ballafletcher (10.45am KO)