Rugby: Douglas hunting for points at Rochdale

Friday, 16 September 2022 14:30

Vagabonds to begin campaign with trip to Bury

Report by Dave Christian:

Winless after 2 games Douglas head off to Rochdale this weekend looking for their first points of the campaign in Regional 2 North West. Rochdale are the new boys having won promotion last season. They won against Bowdon in week 1 but lost against Broughton Park last week although they did pick up two losing bonus points. The game is winnable but will need some effort on the day.

Vagabonds open up against Bury

Vagabonds make their return to the English Clubs Championships with a trip to Bury, a side widely tipped for the title even though the season hasn’t started yet. Vagas lost away at Hoylake in a pre-season friendly but felt they were competitive. It sounds like they may need to better this week.

Two intra-club games in Ravenscroft Manx Shield

As the Shield starts to take shape after two rounds the action hots up for Ramsey and Southern Nomads with both their sides facing their own clubmates this week.

A third game of the weekend was scheduled between Western Vikings and Castletown but this has been postponed.

At Mooragh Park Ramsey’s Red host their Blues. The Reds have only played once and find themselves in third place in the standings just behind the Blues. The Reds however look to have the stronger back line while the Blues forwards may just have the edge. Brandon Atchison has carried on from where he left off last season and is on razor sharp form for the Reds. Two new players have however grabbed some attention too. Ivo Morrey had a hat trick on debut and Brayden Roche was fairly sharp last week too. There are first team places up for grabs at the Mooragh Park too. Ramsey face Caldy next weekend ahead of their Cheshire Bowl games and this intra club game will be an ideal chance to impress for a spot in the Bowl squad.

Down at Ballakilley, it will be a similar story for Nomads. Their Bowl campaign isn’t too far away and this is a good opportunity for players to stick a hand up to the selectors. Orry Watterson, Tony Quinn and Max Fairbairn will surely be in the mix and Alex Long has been kicking well so far too and I expect to see them on the scoresheet again this week.

Fixtures 17 September

Regional 2 North West

Rochdale v Douglas @ Rochdale (KO 1.30pm)

Counties 3 ADM Lancs/Cheshire

Bury v Vagabonds @ Bury (KO 2.45pm)

Ravenscroft Manx Shield (All KO @ 2.15pm)

Ramsey Red v Ramsey Blues @ Mooragh Park

Nomads Greens v Nomads Whites @ Ballakilley

Western Vikings p-p Castletown

Rugby: Douglas hunting for points at Rochdale

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