Rugby: First home game of new season awaits for Vagabonds

Douglas welcome Whitchurch, Vagas Ladies away in cup competition

Report by Dave Christian:

Douglas look for first win

Douglas host Whitchurch at Port-e-Chee looking for their first win. Three losses from three starts see them sat at the foot of the table, however skipper Simon Hodinnott returns this week as do Liam Kirkpatrick and Shay Waterworth.

They continue to miss Kyle Martinn (wrist) at scrum half but should be in almost top condition to face the eighth placed team in Regional 2 North West. 

Kick-off at Port-e-Chee is early this week at 12.30pm.

Vagabonds home debut

Vagas take on Marple on Saturday in their first home game of the 2023/24 campaign. 

They lost narrowly away at Ellesmere Port in a league/cup double header last Saturday and coaches Franzy Germishuys and Daryn Thompson will want to get the wheels back on the wagon in front of their home supporters.

The two sides have met fourteen times previously in league competition with Marple ahead eight-six statistically. 

They haven’t however lined up against each other since the 2017-18 season when Marple won comfortably home and away. 

This season with only a handful of games played, there’s no real form, to gauge against. Both have played one and lost one which means this game could be a good indicator.

Mark Oldfield couldn’t travel last Saturday and he’ll be itching for a game by now. His aggressive style in the back row makes him a dangerous player for the opposition and while Ruan Erasmus and Dan Bonwick both got over the whitewash at Ellesmere Port, having Oldfield in the pack will definitely increase the threat level. 

Expect a close game here.

Vagabonds Ladies make cup debut

Vagabonds Ladies head away again this week to Sefton for their first tie in the Papa Johns Ladies Cup. 

They’ll have a steep learning curve though after losing heavily away at Chester last Saturday - Sefton are in a higher Division league-wise and will be stern challenge for a Vagabonds side that is rebuilding itself with new and young players joining the squad.

Vagas look likely to be missing a few players this weekend. Nat Bush, Chrissie Johnson, Jo McCabe and Sammie Macdonald are all taking part in the Wooden Spoon Vets Fest at Moseley so it will be another weekend for the Vagas youngsters to gain some valuable on the field experience ahead of their trip to Didsbury on 7 October.

Local friendlies ahead of Cheshire competitions

Ramsey, Southern Nomads and Western Vikings are all in Cheshire action on 7 October so the three will take an opportunity this weekend for a three-way friendly to give their players some fifteen aside game time. 

The action gets underway at QEII School, Peel kicking off at 2.15pm.

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