Rugby: Douglas face Manchester at Port-e-Chee

Manx Cup also getting started this weekend

Report by Dave Christian:

Douglas’ run of home games continues this week when Manchester visit Port-e-Chee in North One West. Manchester are an old club with a proud history and have competed at the top end of the National Leagues however financial pressures meant that they were unable to continue paying players and they had a spectacular fall from grace during the early part of the last decade. They’ve stabilised things now and are settled in North One West, currently occupying 5^th place and winning 10 from 15 including a 32-19 defeat of Douglas in the away game earlier this season.

Douglas however now have some momentum. They’re off the bottom and with two games in hand, could potentially move as high as tenth place if the results go their way. The forwards are competitive and with hat should be a dry-ish track, the backs should be on firm footing too. This could be a tight one.

Kick off at Port-e-Chee is at 1.45pm

Ravenscroft Manx Cup gets underway

With the pre-Christmas competitions now decided the Ravenscroft Manx Cup and Plate competitions can get underway. This season brings a new look to both tournaments but a familiar feel. The Cup ill be contested by Douglas Celts, Ramsey, Southern Nomads and Vagabonds while the Plate will see Emerging Nomads, Ramsey B, Vagabonds Hornets and Western Vikings competing. Both comps will be played on a round robin league basis with semi final play-offs and a finals day. They’ll be played on alternate weekends starting with the Cuyp this Saturday.

Manx Trophy winners Ramsey get their campaign underway when Southern Nomads visit the Mooragh. The two met there earlier in the season in a Trophy game Nomads will want to forget. The men in green have however improved a lot since then and will be a good test for Ramsey. The northerners are however looking a little stronger since the start of the season. Danny Howard is back from a long term absence and two tries for the second team last week in his first start of the season suggests that he’s in contention for a place. Youngster Jake Richmond in his second game of the season also bagged two and should also be in the mix.

In the other Cup game, Sure Vagabonds host Douglas Celts at Ballafletcher. The two meets in the Trophy ended up one win apiece but, the Celts have struggled with player numbers thus far and with Vagas having a steadier team, they’re probably pre-match favourites. Harri Wallis appears in good nick in the Vagas centres and could be a man to watch on Saturday in addition to the usual threats from Nathan Gibson in the forwards and try machine Steve Gawne out wide.

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Fixtures 22 January

North One West

Douglas v Manchester @ Port-e-Chee ko 1.45pm

Ravenscroft Manx Cup

Ramsey v PDMS Southern Nomads @ Mooragh Park ko 2.15pm

Sure Vagabonds v Douglas Celts @ Ballafletcher ko 2.15pm