Rugby: Douglas secure Regional 2 North West play-off spot despite defeat

Douglas Celts win Manx Shield after victory over Western Vikings

Report by Dave Christian:

Douglas needed three points to guarantee a promotion play-off place but champions North Ribblesdale were in no mood for compromise. 

Douglas started well with a dominant scrum earning a penalty which Nathan Robson converted for a 3-0 lead. 

After that though, the traffic was one-way - four tries from the champions saw them 24-3 ahead by half time and in the second half they exploited Douglas gaps as they threw caution to the wind in attack and ran out 50-3 winners.

The result meant that Douglas had to hope for a favourable result elsewhere to secure their place in the play-offs and they got it. 

Burnage lost 25-15 away at Sandbach which means that Douglas claimed the final place in the play-offs. 

Fixtures for these will be confirmed in the very near future.

Vagabonds win but defeat for Ramsey

There was a mixed bag of results for the two Manx sides in Counties 3 ADM Lancs/Cheshire Minor Conference League. 

Vagabonds beat Hoylake 32-12 at Ballafletcher and are now temporarily top of the conference standings while Ramsey slipped to bottom following a 26-8 home defeat by title favourites Ormskirk.

'Vagas' skipper Dan Bonwick led from the front again with two tries along with tries from Harry Goodwin, Theo Head, Brendan Kelly and Jack Cutts with Cutts kicking one conversion in the blustery conditions.

At the Mooragh Park, Ramsey took an early lead with a Dan Kelly penalty. 

Ormskirk hit back with two tries from captain James Lang plus one from flanker Christian Lawrence and two conversions from Andy Evans. 

Josh Corteen pulled one back from Ramsey just before the break and the teams turned around with Ormskirk 19-8 ahead. 

Andy Evans’ try which he converted himself, was the only score in the second half but gave Ormskirk a bonus point in addition to their win.

Douglas Celts claim Hartford Homes Manx Shield

Congratulations to Douglas Celts. 

They beat Western Vikings 73-10 in the final game of then Shield to secure the title and set themselves up for a potential Shield and Manx Cup double. 

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Results

Saturday, 11 April 2026

Regional 2 North West

North Ribblesdale 50-3 Douglas

Counties 3 ADM Lancashire/Cheshire Minor Conference League

Ramsey 8-26 Ormskirk

Vagabonds 32-12 Hoylake

Hartford Homes Manx Shield

Western Vikings 10-73 Douglas Celts