Rugby: Douglas to open new campaign against Firwood Waterloo

Vagabonds begin latest season with cup clash at Dukinfield

Report by Dave Christian:

Douglas’ North West 2 campaign gets underway this weekend with Firwood Waterloo visiting Port-e-Chee. 

Douglas won 25-17 back at the tail end of last season however in their ten league meetings it’s Waterloo that have come out better winning seven times to Douglas’ three.

With it being the season opener there’s little form to go on and we have to look back to last season for guidance. 

Waterloo won 13 from 22 and finished fifth in the standings. Douglas won just six of their 22 and finished comfortably outside the relegation zone. 

A Manx Cup win in April will have given the squad some confidence too.

The gap in the standings however is too large and based on this we may just see an away win.

Vagabonds travel to Dukinfield in Cheshire Bowl

Vagabonds have a little wait before their league campaign starts but they do get going in the Cheshire Bowl this week with an away game at Dukinfield. 

The Manchester side will be playing in the Division above Vagabonds this season however they did meet at Dukinfield last season with Vagas suffering a 46-5 defeat.

Head-to-head Vagas have the edge with twelve wins from twenty three meetings but Dukinfield will likely start as favourites. 

Vagas league campaign finally gets going on 23 September.

Ravenscroft Ten Aside kicks off the domestic season

With the rugby world cup looming large the decision has been taken to start off the domestic season with friendly ten-a-side matches. 

These start this Saturday - the venue was scheduled to be Castletown’s Poulsom Park ground but it won’t be ready for Saturday so they will now be played at Ballakilley Park. 

The games will be run on a pitch up and play basis from 3.00pm and when a decision is made on a venue, it will be announced via social media channels.

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