Rugby: Douglas host Vale of Lune to start 2024

Vagabonds could go top in Counties 4 ADM Lancs/Cheshire this weekend

Report by Dave Christian:

Doulas get 2024 underway with a home tie against Lancaster’s Vale of Lune - a nice little run of results in the run-up to Christmas pulled Douglas clear of the mire at the foot of Regional 2 North West and they currently sit in ninth place, ten points clear of the relegation places and they also have an un-played match against bottom side Kirkby Lonsdale.

Vale are in seventh and just two points clear of Douglas. Like Douglas they have four wins from 12 outings but remain ahead due to two draws. 

Over the years the sides have met nine times in total with Vale leading 7-2 and have won their last three encounters including a 42-7 win on 23 September.

Douglas may however have turned a corner. Those individuals from the September game are now playing like a team. 

Yes they’ve lost but they also have five losing bonus points which means that on five occasions they’ve finished within a score of the opposition. If those five losses were converted to wins they could be as high as third in the table and with home advantage this week, a win should be expected.

Vagabonds return to action

Vagas make their first appearance of 2024 in a home tie against Ellesmere Port at Ballafletcher in Counties 4 ADM Lancs/Cheshire. Vagas are handily poised in third place and with leaders Colne & Nelson on a free week Vagas could take top spot, although that’s more likely to go to second-placed Ashton-Under-Lyne depending on results of course.

The RFU systems show Vagas meeting Ellesmere Port eight times and ahead 5-3 on wins, this includes their last two meetings in 2023 when Ellesmere won both. 

Since then though Vagas have kicked on while Ellesmere have stagnated a little and only have two wins from five matches.

Vagas have ground their way into contention during the autumn and really threw the cat among the pigeons with a big win away at Ashton. 

The forwards are generating clean ball with Gavin Turnbull’s inclusion at number eight proving a good move, Mark Oldfield disrupts wherever he plays and Dan Bonwick’s name on a team sheet is usually worth at least ten points. 

On current form Vagas should take maximum points here - Ellesmere are however two games down and two wins would see them nipping at Vagas’ heels in fourth pace so don’t discount them.

Two games in Manx Shield

The Ravenscroft Manx Shield restarts with two games this weekend, Ramsey travel to Peel to take on Western Vikings in the first of a number of Cheshire Plate Final rehearsals while the IOM Barbarians head down to Ballakilley Park to take on Southern Nomads.

The form book suggests that the Vikings v Ramsey game should be a Ramsey win - Vikings however are growing in stature after their Cheshire adventures and Ed Knight is on red hot form with the ball in hand. I did also notice one Jack Goodwin’s name on a Christmas score sheet and his return from a mountain bike injury could gave Vikings a new lease of life. 

There are no reported injuries from the Ramsey camp - Dan Richmond remains a long term absentee but everyone else will be fit a raring for action.

The final fixture could prove something of a challenge - the Barbarians are likely to be thin on the ground and should be outgunned by Nomads on paper at least, Christmas holiday overspill from university students may however helps swell the numbers and make a viable game.

Fixtures 6 January

Regional 2 North West

Douglas v Vale of Lune @ Port-e-Chee (2pm KO)

Counties 4 ADM Lancs/Cheshire

Vagabonds v Ellesmere Port @ Ballafletcher (2.15pm KO)

Ravenscroft Manx Shield (All 2.15pm KO)

Western Vikings v Ramsey @ Ramsey

PDMS Southern Nomads v IOM Barbarians @ Ballakilley