Rugby: Ravenscroft Manx Plate to get underway

Douglas welcome Glossop to Port-e-Chee

Report by Dave Christian:

With the Manx Cup up and running this week sees the start of the Ravenscroft Manx Plate. The competition will be played on a home and away round robin basis and at the conclusion of the league phase, first will play fourth and second will play third in the semi finals with the final pencilled in for 7^th May. This week the opening round sees a virtual repeat of the closing games in the Manx Bowl a fortnight ago. Ramsey B will face Emerging Nomads at Mooragh Park while Vagabonds Hornets will face Western Vikings at Ballafletcher.

Ramsey beat Nomads 48-22 two weeks ago but actually led 36-5 at half time with Nomads sneaking the second half 17-12. That result will give both sides some encouragement going into this weekend. Neil Hulme’s Ramsey side have already taken the Manx Bowl this season and will want to get off to a good start in the Plate. Nomads however showed some real grit in their last outing and weren’t at all phased by a big half time deficit with their youngsters getting stuck in after the break. This game could therefore be very tight.

At Vagabonds, there’s another close game in prospect. While Vagas won both Bowl outings against the Vikings, there was only eight points difference in the aggregate score over the two games which suggests there’s very little between the teams. Prop Josh Hockney is scoring regularly for Vikings and is difficult to stop from close range while Vagas have a great crop of youngsters starting their senior careers and are full of running.

Douglas face Glossop at Port-e-Chee

Douglas lie in 12^th place in North One West just a single point clear of Bowdon who they visit next week. This Saturday however its mid table Glossop who visit Port-e-Chee.

The Derbyshire outfit is currently in 7^th with 8 wins from 15 outings. They beat Douglas 45-24 back in October and apart from a draw at Altrincham Kersal in week 1, they’re results have thus far gone the way of the formbook.

With home advantage and a still dry pitch, Douglas will surely want five points from this match. They’ve struggled to pick up bonus points this season and a five pointer here will do them the power of good.

Their closest rivals Bowdown and Broughton Park both have tricky games and this is the time for Douglas to make hay.

**

North One West

Douglas v Glossop @ Port-e-Chee ko 1.30pm

Ravenscroft Manx Plate

Ramsey B v Emerging Nomads @ Mooragh Park ko 2.15pm

Vagabonds Hornets v Western Vikings @ Ballafletcher ko 2.15pm