Rugby: Douglas game with Broughton Park seemingly off

Vagabonds Ladies on the road this weekend

Report by Dave Christian:

Broughton Park - no show

Douglas were supposed to be playing Broughton Park @ Port-e-Chee but it appears that Broughton have refused to travel. This could be a flight timing issue or it could be a cash issue. The RFU are funding only £2000 per trip and each trip costs around £3500 so they may simply be refusing to pay. Whatever the reason, the scheduled game is not taking place at Port-e-Chee and the underlying issues will go to the League organising committee who have a range of options available to them.

Vagabonds Ladies on the road

Whatever the problem is with Broughton Park men, their ladies team will be hosting Vagabonds Ladies this weekend in Womens NC1 North West. Vagabonds are through their earlier covid problems and name an unchanged back line from the side that drew away at leigh earlier in the season. They will however miss Corinna Daly from the pack as she nurses a leg injury.

It's catch up weekend in Ravenscroft domestic rugby

It’s a fairly quiet weekend on the domestic rugby calendar, with most teams taking a scheduled break. This does however provide an opportunity for catching up with some earlier postponed matches. In the Ravenscroft Manx Trophy, Douglas Celts travel to Southern Nomads’ field of dreams @ Ballakilley

Meanwhile, Nomads second string Emerging Nomads' contest against Ramsey B in the Ravenscroft Manx Bowl has been postponed with Nomads unable to field a team.

Ramsey head the Trophy standings comfortably however the competition is initially league based and at the conclusion of the league phase, it switches to knockout. A second or third place finish would avoid a semi-final against Ramsey and isn’t to be sniffed at. Both Celts and Nomads are one from three going into this match and have an opportunity to put some daylight between them and the opposition. Both sides have however struggled with personnel in the early part of the season.

The Bowl however is a different kettle of fish altogether. It’s a traditional first past the post league and while Castletown have sadly withdrawn, everyone else is incredibly even with just two points separating first and fourth. Personnel difficulties have also hampered both sides so far this season and that should make for a tight game.

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Fixtures 6 November

Womens NC 1 North West

Broughton Park v Vagabonds @ Broughton Park

Ravenscroft Manx Trophy

PDMS Southern Nomads v Douglas Celts @ Ballakilley ko 2.15pm

Ravenscroft Manx Bowl

Ramsey B P-P Emerging Nomads @ Mooragh Park