Rugby: Focus on Nomads and Vikings in Cheshire Bowl

Both on the road this weekend to begin competition campaigns

Report by Dave Christian:

Its cup week in rugby so with Douglas and Vagabonds taking a break from their league games, the focus switches to Southern Nomads and Western Vikings as they get their Cheshire Bowl campaigns underway. 

Both are away from home in the opening week, with Nomads travelling to Port Sunlight and Vikings to Oldershaw. 

The two English clubs have played each other in an opening round with Port Sunlight running out 40-38 winners at Oldershaw and grabbing pole position in the competition. 

The two also line up in the same NORIWUL league with 'Sunlight' currently fourth and Oldershaw a bit lower down in twelfth.

This is probably going to be a big ask for the Manx Clubs - Nomads have a friendly behind them and one defeat by Ramsey in the Manx Shield, Vikings have no form to measure at all this season.

Nomads played very effectively against Ramsey and weren't too far away, the forwards were competitive and the Craine brothers Mike and Rob netted three tries between them, they were perhaps a little light in the set piece though and could struggle against an in form Sunlight.

Vikings are also likely to struggle unless their preparation has been perfect. 

Harry Goodwin will always give them 'vavoom' in the forwards and youngster Tom Randall will get around the park wherever they play him, enthusiasm however counts for little and I suspect we'll see an Oldershaw win.

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