Rugby: Douglas beaten at Manchester

Local games restart after lengthy absence

Douglas’ stuttering start to the season continued when they lost 32-19 away at Manchester in North One West. Harry Hewson ran in two tries for Douglas with paceman Kyle Martin getting their third. Luke Hyland converted two from three but Douglas were still six points shy of a losing bonus point. The defeat, coupled with a win for fellow early strugglers Bowdon, saw Douglas go two points adrift at the foot of the table.

Ramsey thump Vagabonds in Ravenscroft Manx Trophy

A Brandon Atchison hat trick was the highlight of an emphatic win for Ramsey in their opening Manx Trophy game. His first two on twelve and twenty-six minutes respectively, plus two Dan Richmond conversions saw Ramsey lead 14-0 after half an hour. Cam Findlay put Vagas on the board with a penalty but tries from Dan Bonwick and Fintan Cummins plus one more Richmond conversion left Ramsey 26-3 ahead at half time.

Connor Gauci went over for Vagas just after the restart and when Cam Findlay converted from out wide to make it 26-10 a comeback seemed possible. Vagas however then hit the self-destruct button. Number eight Mark Oldfield was shown a red card for some inappropriate footwork and shortly afterwards wing Steve Gawne picked up a yellow for a high tackle. Ramsey made hay while the sun shone. Connor Cracknell, Dan Richmond and Tom Moffatt all crossed for tries with Richmond adding two more conversions to increase the lead to 45-10. Nathan Gibson clawed one back for Vagas at the other end, before Atchison claimed his hat trick and Callum Clague added two late tries to ice the Ramsey cake.

Wins for Emerging Nomads and Ramsey B in Ravenscroft Manx Bowl

Emerging Nomads beat Castletown 36-17 at Poulsom Park to get their Bowl campaign off to a solid start. Veteran wing Andy Lean shone for Nomads with a hat trick of tries and there were also scores for Arthur Torrin, Percy Hampton and George Callister who also added two conversions. Nomads skipper Mike Quayle converted one himself.

At Ballafletcher Ramsey led early on with a Darragh Pilkington penalty but tries from Danny Kane and Rob Pease at the other end gave Vagas a 10-3 lead. Two Ali Trace tries late in the first half,  both converted by Pilkington saw Ramsey leading 17-10 at half time. Owen Bevan, Neil Long, Mikey Craine and Joe Flanagan all went in for second half Ramsey tries to seal the result, but Vagas claimed a try bonus point when Olly Swindlehurst and Aaron Ledingham crossed at the other end.

Report by Dave Christian

Results 2 October

North One West

Manchester 32-19 Douglas

Ravenscroft Manx Trophy

Vagabonds 15-64 Ramsey

Douglas Celts p-p PDMS Southern Nomads

Ravenscroft Manx Bowl

Vagabonds Hornets 22-39 Ramsey B

Castletown 17-36 Emerging Nomads