Rugby: Douglas aiming for safety against Winnington Park

Vagabonds men's welcome league leaders Hoylake to Ballafletcher

Report by Dave Christian:

Douglas are in a fairly strong position in Regional 2 North West. They are however not yet mathematically safe from relegation. They have a nine point cushion from the danger zone but the two chasing sides, Wilmslow and Broughton Park both have games in hand. Looking at the remaining games, both of their rivals have tough finishes and Douglas will know that four or even five points this weekend will probably be enough.

Douglas won the away leg by a point so will really fancy their chances at Port-e-Chee. They’ll be missing Aidan O’Shea for their last two but Bryn Snellgrove and Brad Bowmar should both be available for cover and the return of Harry Hewson to the backline will assist no end. Winnington Park have conceded more than anyone else in this league so Douglas will be looking to make hay.

Vagbonds face Hoylake

Its been a tough season for Vagabonds in Counties 3 ADM Lancs/Cheshire and just to make it worse, their penultimate fixture as they struggle to avoid finishing bottom is against league leaders Hoylake who until last week had remained unbeaten all season. Vagas have a total of fourteen points. Their nearest rivals are Port Sunlight who have seventeen. Both sides have two games to play, with Vagas facing Hoylake & Bury at Ballafletcher and Sunlight facing Bury away followed by Dukinfield at home. Vagas therefore need at least one win from their two games and they also need Sunlight to pick up no points.

Hoylake won their home fixture 39-0 back in November and there appears to be little prospect of a Vagas reversal. Dan Bonwick may make a difference. He bagged two tries in the away win at Port Sunlight and he also scored for Ramsey against Hoylake this season before his big money transfer to Vagas. Bonwick has over 100 league appearances for Ramsey under his belt and could be the catalyst for a Vagas revival. Vagas have a good set of forwards and if they can secure enough possession, the back line could pull off a shock. Statistically however, this is likely to be a Hoylake win.

Vagabonds Ladies host Halifax

Vagas Ladies have three games left of their season in Womens NC1 North West and the first of these is this weekend at Ballafletcher when Halifax visit. The Yorkshire outfit sit in third place with Vagas in fourth and the two haven’t yet met this season. Vagas travel to Halifax on 15 April. Three wins for Vagas could see them finishing second behind Southport who have dominated this league however a second-place finish will need other results to fall their way.

Vagas lost out narrowly away at Chester last Saturday but were missing a few regulars. Becky Dunne, Natalie Bush and Corrina Daly were all absent from the team sheet and they return to a very strong bench this week. Clara Townsin goes straight back in though and Ella Goodwin-Jones comes in at hooker meaning the in form Sophie Henry can revert to her usual back row slot.

Vagas have an excellent record against Halifax and the stats show they’ve scored more points this season too. Defensively however Halifax have only conceded an average of eleven points per game while Vagas average is closer to thirty. This all points to a Halifax win, but the game could be tight and with a home crowd backing them, Vagas could have an edge.

One tie in Ravenscroft Manx Trophy

Newly-crowned Manx Shield champions Ramsey will take on the combined forces of Western Vikings and Eastern Barbarians at Mooragh Park in the only Trophy fixture on the card to survive. The Reds won comfortably in the end against Nomads last week and should have enough in the tank to take the points this week.

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Fixtures 4 March

Regional 2 North West

Douglas v Winnington Park @ Port-e-Chee ko 2.00pm

Counties 3 ADM Lancs/Cheshire

Vagabonds v Hoylake @ Ballafletcher ko tbc

Womens NC1 North West

Vagabonds v  Halifax @ Ballafletcher ko 1.15pm

Ravenscroft Manx Trophy

Ramsey Reds v Western Vikings & Eastern Barbarians @ Mooragh Park KO 2.15pm