Rugby: Douglas host Wilmslow in first game of new year

Low key start to 2023 for domestic competitions

Report by Dave Christian:

Douglas host Wilmslow to kick off their 2023 and on paper it appears to be an eminently winnable game.

A run of encouraging results before Christmas has lifted Douglas away from the foot of Regional 2 North West and saw Wilmslow steadily fall towards it.

There are however only three points between them in the standings and their playing records are very similar.

The ground at Port-e-Chee is likely to be on the soft side, so don’t expect a high scoring game.

Low key start for 2023 in domestic competition

The Christmas turkey is out of the way and the rugby season can resume. However, the Manx Executive Committee has been looking at the Ravenscroft Manx Shield and some radical changes may be afoot – more of that next week.

This weekend there are just two games scheduled. At QEII Western Vikings face Ramsey Blues, while at Mooragh Park Ramsey’s Reds take on Nomads Whites. Any spare players from Castletown or Eastern Barbarians who don’t play this weekend are encouraged to attend either venue to get some game time.

This mix and match approach was felt to be the best way to try and complete the fixture list as all clubs suffered the mid-season injury/illness problems which occur around Christmas each year. On paper, Ramsey should be too strong for Nomads Whites while the Blues should comfortably outgun the Vikings.

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Fixtures, 7 January 2023

Regional 2 North West

Douglas v Wilmslow @ Port-e-Chee ko 2.00pm

Ravenscroft Manx Shield

Western Viking v Ramsey Blues @ QEII ko 2.15pm

Ramsey Reds v Nomads Whites @ Mooragh Park ko 2.15pm