Shield leaders visit Vagabonds

The big game in the Shimmin Wilson Manx Shield this week is at Glencrutchery Road where holders and early pacesetters Southern Nomads take on Vagabonds B, who may still harbour title ambitions despite losing out at Douglas B last Saturday.

Nomads crushed their own second team 52-3 and will want to send a message to Douglas B who are level with them at the top of the table.

Ian Hargreaves leads Nomads this season and he will be looking for a big performance from his big forwards as his side aim for back-to-back titles.

Front rowers Steve McHugh and Dave Parkes notched three tries between them last weekend and more of the same will be needed.

Last season’s runners-up Ramsey B head for King Williams College to play Emerging Nomads.

Ramsey got back to winning ways last Saturday with a tight victory over the improving Castletown.

Josh Carine has been something of a find for Ramsey and he has bagged three tries on his two shield outings so far and will no doubt be stirring some interest from the first team selectors at the Mooragh.

Neil Callister’s Emerging Nomads are no pushovers however and ran Vagas B very close in the opening round of games.

They have never beaten Ramsey B, but will fancy their chances.

In the final game, joint front runners Douglas B head for Poulsom park to take on Castletown.

Town with some new personnel have been proving a tougher prospect than in other years and Douglas will need to draw on all the experience to pick up the points.