Rugby: Douglas face final away trip to Kendal

Manx Plate expected to go down to the wire

Report by Dave Christian:

After a long season of travelling there’s finally some light at the end of the tunnel for Douglas in North One West. They make their last road trip of the season this week with a long journey up to fourth placed Kendal.

The Cumbrians still have a shot at a top two finish and will surely be throwing everything into this game. They have 16 wins from 24 and beat Douglas at Port-e-Chee 26-5 earlier in the season.

Douglas’ injury woes continue but Harry Hewson returned from his holidays last week and will no doubt assist in the back line. The makeshift Douglas team were beaten by Stockport last week, but did show signs of promise and with Stockport being in a class of their own this season there’s some optimism that Douglas could cause Kendal some problems with a little bit of luck.

Tension mounts in Ravenscroft Manx Plate

While the Manx Cup has largely sorted itself out, the Plate competition which sits underneath it is going right to the wire. This weekend sees the final round of scheduled matches in the league phase with one re-arranged game to slot in just after easter. All four teams are mathematically capable of qualifying for top spot, which of course gives a home semi-final against the fourth-place side. Similarly, all four are also capable of finishing fourth.

At Ballafletcher this weekend, Vagabonds Hornets host Ramsey B. Hornets are currently top and a win with four or more tries will guarantee them finishing top. It is however the Hornets final game and with Ramsey meeting Vikings in the re-arranged match after Easter, anything less than maximum points could see the hornets nudged off their perch. The two sides met earlier in the competition at the Mooragh Park and Ramsey ran out 37-22 winners. They’ll need a similar result if they want a home semi. Neil Hulme’s men, despite lifting the Manx Bowl just after Christmas, are currently in that fourth place position.

Meanwhile over at QEII, Western Vikings host Emerging Nomads in the other game. Vikings snatched a win 29-20 at Ballakilley Park less than a month ago but with a covid intervention, haven’t played for three weeks. Nomads on the other hand beat the Hornets a fortnight ago after they had a spectacular discipline collapse. Both sides here need a win with four tries or more and need to prevent the opposition from scoring four tries.

Both games do however have one common thread, they’re impossible to call. You’d probably fancy Vagas on their home turf and similarly, Vikings on theirs. This competition is however that finely balanced, no sensible investor would gamble on either outcome.

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Fixtures 9 April

North One West

Kendal v Douglas @ Kendal ko 1.30pm

Ravenscroft Manx Plate

Vagabonds Hornets v Ramsey B @ Ballafletcher ko 2.15pm

Western Vikings v Emerging Nomads @ QE2 ko 2.15pm