Rugby: Douglas to host Altrincham Kersal

Vagabonds Ladies travel to face league leaders

Report by Dave Christian:

After a couple of weeks on the road, Douglas are back on Ellan Vannin this week to take on Altrincham Kersal at Port-e-Chee. The game kicks off at 1.00pm (weather permitting) to allow for AK’s travel arrangements.

Douglas drew the away game 31-31 which suggests they could go well at home.

AK are above Douglas in the table but with a worse playing record with just two wins and two draws from 18 matches. The big difference however is bonus points. AK have amassed 18 to Douglas’ 3. They have a potent attack which is averaging nearly 25 points per game. The defence however is like a colander. With home advantage and hopefully a big crowd Douglas will be looking for five points from this game. There’s a fly in the ointment however and Paul leivers’ stag trip may well mean they’re a little short.

Vagabonds at league leaders

In Womens NC1 North West Vagabonds travel to the unbeaten leaders Preston Grasshoppers. Vagas were outplayed by Broughton Park in their last outing however BP made the trip to Preston a week later and were trounced 50-10.

This will therefore be a difficult trip. Skipper Lauren Ellison will be missing with injury however there have been some glimmers of hope in her absence. Maisie Murray impressed at hooker against BP  and Sophie Henry was in cracking form.

They’ll need all that and more theough against a Hoppers side which appears unstoppable.

Ramsey visit Vagabonds in Ravenscroft Manx Cup

The scheduled match between Southern Nomads and Douglas Celts has been postponed which leaves just one tie in the Manx Cup this week, but what a cracker it is. Sure Vagabonds host Ramsey at Ballafletcher kicking off at 2.15pm. Ramsey have taken all before them so far this season including two big wins against Vagabonds in the Manx Trophy. Vagas however have been carefully going about their business since the Cup started and its possible that the momentum may have swung away from Ramsey.

Matt Meechan’s Ramsey side has an impressive injury list. Tom Moffatt, Josh Corteen, Callum Clague, Connor Casey and Eddie Lord are all nursing knocks of one shape or another while Conor Cracknell is also absent on holiday and Josh Abley has returned to Liverpool after his brief spell on Island. Jared May looks likely to get a call up from Ramsey’s second team to help with second row cover, while the back row will depend on availability.

Vagas have been using the competition to blood some youngsters but still have a few older heads to hold things together. Cam Findlay is however reported to be injured which may mean a reshuffle in the back line which took Douglas Celts apart a month ago. Nathan Gibson may well open a few doors coming off the back of the scrum and if he does, Cole Donnelly and Callum Murray will surely be looking to step through them. This game will however be a step up for the Vagas youngsters and the formbook suggests a Ramsey win.

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Fixtures 19 February

North One West

Douglas v Altrincham Kersal @ Port-e-Chee ko tbc

Womens NC1 North West

Preston Grasshoppers v Vagabonds @ Preston ko tbc

Ravenscroft Manx Cup

Sure Vagabonds v Ramsey @ Ballafletcher ko 2.15pm