Rugby: Douglas to host Sandbach in big top-of-the-table clash

Vagabonds, Vagabonds Ladies and Ramsey all at home for final matches of 2025

Report by Dave Christian:

Regional 2 North West’s early pace-setters Sandbach visit Port-e-Chee this week as the league passes its halfway point. 

Douglas sit in fourth place after a surprise defeat at West Park (St Helens) last Saturday but do have a game in hand which would see them go top if won. 

They did, however lose at Sandbach in the away leg, despite being 20-17 up with ten to play as leaked tries at the death cost them the game.

The Douglas defence, however has tightened since and remains the meanest in the league, which is just as well because Sandbach have the most prolific attack.

There are no reported injuries from last week’s game - Skipper, Blake Snell and wing Oli Corkish both sat out with knocks but could both return to boost the squad and enjoy the pre-Christmas home crowd.

Home games for Ramsey and Vagabonds

In Counties 3 ADM Lancs/Cheshire, Ramsey and Vagabonds have home ties to round out their 2025. 

Ramsey face Ashton-under-Lyne at the Mooragh for the first time while 'Vagas' host Clitheroe at Ballafletcher. 

Counties 3 will split into two mini-leagues at the end of January and both games are important - both teams seem destined for the lower league, however their visitors are on the cusp of the higher one and will need wins to remain in the hunt.

Ashton are six from nine and look to have the better prospects - they sit in third place but have surprisingly lost games away at Dukinfield and Ormskirk which should give Ramsey some encouragement. 

The Ramsey sick list is, however, growing with Matt Livesey joining the ranks last week. 

On a positive front, Rory Nicholson may be available this week and Jake Richmond may be close to a return from a knee knock - this will be tough for Ramsey and should be an Ashton win.

Clitheroe are another roller-coaster side - they’re four from nine on the wins count but have the scalp of Burnley under the belt. 

Much will depend on the strength of the squad available to travel this week.

Vagabonds, in my view, are in the ascendency - they have their first win and put up a great show against league leaders, Bury last Saturday. 

The forward pack is gnarly, the tight five strong and their set piece game works well - the players are showing huge commitment on the field and at full strength they’ll be a handful at home. 

Skipper Daniel Bonwick’s running, Cam Findlay’s kicking and all that horsepower up front means they may just sneak this one.

Vagabonds Ladies round off 2025 against Aldwinians

Vagabonds Ladies currently lie in fifth in Womens NC2 Noth (South) but have a game in hand which could send them into promotion contention. 

They do, however need to pick up maximum points from this game which appears to be the first league meeting between the two.

Aldwinians are winless after five games and sit next to bottom - they did draw with bottom side Bury earlier in the season but have had nothing since then.

'Vagas' are two from four and going well - they were just squeezed out at home by second place Winnington Park which means they have nothing to fear elsewhere in the table. 

Flying machine, Freya Crowe has scored at least once in every game so far this season and they’ll want her fit for this game. 

While Freya will no doubt provide the surgical strikes, there’s plenty of bludgeon in the forwards - Maylyn Campbell and Greeba Taisia are a real handful and Jules Harrison’s straight running will always yield yards. 

This should be a Vagabonds win and by a big score too.

**

Fixtures

Saturday, 13 December 2025

Regional 2 North West

Douglas vs Sandbach @ Port-e-Chee (KO TBC)

Counties 3 ADM Lancashire/Cheshire

Ramsey vs Ashton-Under-Lyne @ Mooragh Park (12.30pm KO)

Vagabonds vs Clitheroe @ Ballafletcher (KO TBC)

Women's NC2 North (South)

Vagabonds Ladies vs Aldwinians @ Ballafletcher (1.30pm KO)