Rugby: Douglas hoping to shake off losing start to season

Vagabonds set for first home game of latest campaign

Report by Dave Christian:

After back-to-back defeats, Douglas return to Port-e-Chee this weekend with Burnage the visitors in Regional 2 North West. 

Losses to Wilmslow and Birkenhead Park have dented Douglas’ start to the season and the injury to Nathan Robson has been quickly followed by knocks to Josh Duncan, Harry Hewson, Liam Kirkpatrick and Ethan Kermode.

Harry Cartwright looks like he will lead the side from number eight this week with the nuggety Mark Oldfield joining him in the back row. 

The Douglas back line has pace aplenty in all positions and if the forwards can provide enough ball, they will cause the opposition problems. 

Burnage, however had a big win at Winnington Park last week scoring 54 points and making them the leagues top scorers. 

Their defence, however looked a bit shaky and Douglas must exploit this.

Vagabonds face Oldham

Oldham are the visitors at Ballafletcher this weekend as 'Vagas' look to bounce back from last week’s away defeat in Counties 3 ADM Lancs/Cheshire. 

The Lancashire side won 45-17 in the corresponding fixture last season on their way to a fifth-place finish in phase one of the league with nine wins from 13 games. 

They couldn’t continue though and only won two in the second phase. 

While Vagabonds toiled at Clitheroe last Saturday, Oldham were beaten 34-23 at home by Dukinfield which suggests they may be on Vagabonds' radar as a possible win.

Vagabonds, however had some problems last week - they lost Archie Benson and George Hotchkiss early on to injury, the two were paired in the ten and twelve jerseys and losing a crucial partnership like that could pose an issue. 

'Vagas' do have the luxury of skipper, Dan Bonwick in their back row and he is as adept in the ten jersey as he is at eight, which may give them some comfort if Benson doesn’t recover.

The Vagabonds tight five looks solid with messrs Louw, Rockwell and De Oliveira providing a stable front row and should problems arise in the back line, they can always switch to a more forward-orientated game to compensate.

The league’s first round of results suggests the big boys will be Burnley, Bury and perhaps Ashton-under-Lyne, so picking off winnable games like this is a must if Vagas want to challenge.

Nomads head for Dukinfield in Cheshire Plate

Southern Nomads were due to meet Douglas Celts in the Manx Shield this week, however an away draw in the Cheshire Plate and the delayed start to the season has left them only one free date for their Plate tie against Dukinfield and the Shield game has therefore been postponed.

The Manchester side play their rugby in Counties 3 ADM with Vagabonds and they opened their account last week with an impressive win away at Oldham. 

Their Blocksages ground has historically proved to be something of a fortress which means that Nomads have their work cut out.

Against Western Vikings they had the pacey youngsters Alex Maher and Tony Quinn who bagged five tries between them out wide however they need ball and Dukinfield are traditionally strong in the forwards which means the Nomads engine room containing grizzled vets like Gaz Watt and Ian Hargreaves will need all their guile and grunt.

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FIXTURES

Saturday, 3 October 2026

Regional 2 North West

Douglas vs Burnage (3pm KO @ Port-e-Chee)

Counties 3 ADM Lancashire/Cheshire

Vagabonds vs Oldham (2pm KO @ Ballafletcher)

Cheshire Plate 

Dukinfield vs Southern Nomads (1.30pm KO @ Dukinfield)