Rugby: Douglas prepare for long journey to Carlisle

Second round of Manx Plate also awaits this weekend

Douglas make the longest trip of the season to Carlisle in good fettle after felling Bowdon last week, and make potentially two changes with Charlie Henthorn in for Will Cain, and John Dutnall for Thomas Coleman. Glyn Hooson-Owen retains his second-row slot beside Ralph Clarke.
 
The Cumbrians made Douglas sweat in October at Port-e-Chee, taking a 0-12 first-half lead and keeping Douglas at bay until the 76^th minute when Hyland’s penalty snatched the points 16-15. Since then, three match postponements and one win have rooted Carlisle to the foot of the league table, but despite this season’s promotion and relegation rightly discarded by the RFU in the light of Covid complications, there’s always an eye to the future and the little matter of home pride at stake.
 
SQUAD - Ralph Clarke, Robert Todd, John Dutnall, David Sherwin, Simon Hoddinott, Wilf Kermode, Blake Snell, Luke Hyland, Harry Swayne, Charlie Henthorn, Harry Hewson, Craig Martin, Shay Waterworth, Jack Shimmin, Kyle Martin, Owen Carvin, Carl Markl-Ferns, Glyn Hooson-Owen

Ravenscroft Manx Plate - Round 2

Round 2 of the Manx Plate gets underway this weekend with two ties. Western Vikings host Ramsey B at QE2 while Vagabonds Hornets take the trip south to Ballakilley Park to face Emerging Nomads.

After winning the earlier Manx Bowl competition Neil Hulme’s Ramsey B side find themselves bottom of the standings after the opening round when they lost 37-10 to Emerging Nomads at the Mooragh Park. Ramsey will however be aware that the scoreline didn’t reflect what was a very close game and the defeat won’t have been too much of a blow. Ramsey skipper Hulme is doubtful due to a knee injury however he does have two youngsters in Nathan Robson and Ross Quayle to potentially come into the team. Vikings are known for their straight running game and will use the big hitters Harry Goodwin and Josh Hockney to pound the Ramsey line to look for gaps. Vikings won the last QE2 encounter and probably start as favourites.

At the field of dreams, could Emerging Nomads dare to dream. The southerners’ first team beat Sure Vagabonds last Saturday and a double could be on the cards. It was the Nomads youngsters who did the damage at Ramsey. Tony Quinn ran in two and Liam Savage scored on debut. If the Nomad pack can hold the Hornets in the set piece, the young backline could do some damage.

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Fixtures 12 February

North One West

Carlisle v Douglas @ Carlisle ko 1.00pm

Ravenscroft Manx Plate

Western Vikings v Ramsey B @ QE2 ko 2.15pm

Emerging Nomads v Vagabonds Hornets @ Ballakilley Park ko 2.15pm