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2E2 Douglas Rugby Club cruised into the Manx Cup Final with a 65 - 0 victory over Southern Nomads. The encounter was not as one sided as the result suggests as for the first half Nomads pushed Douglas and it wasnt until the second half that Douglas showed their calibre and streaked away.

Douglas went into the game having chosen to rest some of their squad from last weeks encounter with Ramsey and those who filled in did so more than ably and will provide many a selection head ache for the coming weeks. The front row of Todd, Pote and Ferns was replaced this week by Ben Dutnall, Craig Lea and his son and debutant Jack Lea whilst in the second row Glyn Hooson-Owen was carrying a knock and Conor McCaughan filled those big boots.

The game started scrappy with Nomads doing the dog work and scrabbling for every scrap they could and they were doing well to disrupt Douglas and knock them off their stride. Douglas however were allowed a little rumble on 10 minutes and that man Daryn Thompson bagged another try for the season. Hpwever, minutes later indiscretions meant Douglas found themselves facing a penalty kick at goal, this was missed and this spurred Douglas into life.

Douglas went through the phases and eventually well worked play found Mike Hebden cutting the angle to glide in for the second try of the game. Nomads still looked a threat out wide and with the Landells brothers creating a few scary moments the Douglas wings were being kept honest. Douglas however made a great break through the centres with James Wood who was allowed to run and with a big hand off to his opposite number was able to feed Callum Carine for the try. Douglas were now starting to get to grips with Nomads and they were beginning to click and things were coming off. A sign of this was the final try of the half from Bryn Snellgrove, he broke blind and chipped the ball over the defence gathered and repeated the trick and was in for a score. Half time 24 - 0 to Douglas.

The second half was a completely different affair as for the first 10 minutes Nomads stifled Douglas and then it seemed that Douglas began to overwhelm them a little and they became tired as to their credit they had put everything into the match to this point and now cracks started to appear in their defence as Douglas began firing on all blanks.

Bryn Snellgrove intercepted a wayward pass on the half way line and sauntered in under the posts for his second of the game, soon after Scott Goodall found ebough space on the left wing to go over for a try of his own.

Nomads valiantly fought back and pressured Douglas into penalties and were starting to make some in roads, however the introduction of Liam 'Mandingo' Murphy gave Douglas that fresh pair of legs from a willing runner who then got Douglas back on the front foot. A quick tap penalty found the hands of Jack Lea who burrowed over for his first club try and minutes later the ball was spun wide for Callum Carine to glide over for his second try.

Douglas were now purring nicely and they were playing some good attacking rugby and Nomads were still standing up and being counted. An attempted clearance by fly half Mark Young hit Craig McGee on the hour mark and Craig just tapped down for Douglas' ninth try of the afternoon. From the kick off Douglas recycled and when Christian Brew broke the line Douglas were on the front foot and a well times passed found James Wood on hand to glide in under the posts. The gloss on the afternoon however was when debutant prop and man of the match Jack Lea was given the ball on the 22 from a quick tap penalty with no one home for Nomads and he glided in for his second of the afternoon and Douglas' eleventh. The conversion was missed and the whistle blew for 65 - 0.

Credit must go to Nomads who stood up manfully to this powerful Douglas side and never gave up for the full 80 minutes.

Douglas will be pleased with their afternoons work and performance of the squad as a whole was excellent as Douglas now progress into the cup final where they will meet Ramsey.

Douglas beat defiant Oldershaw
2E2 Douglas Rugby Club beat a tough Oldershaw side 41 - 6 on Saturdsay at Port e Chee. It was a game which ebbed and flowed as bouts of fisticuffs and the odd flash of handbags were on display.

The game started well for Douglas and they were ahead within 5 minutes as well worked phase ball started from a bullocking run from deep inside his own 22 from Liam Murphy allowed the Douglas pack to pop the ball through the hands and deep into Oldershaw territory. Douglas then went down the left wing and were stopped ten yards out, the ball was passed right and Nathan Pierce cut the angle and was in under the posts, duly converted by Snellgrove.

From the kick off Murphy was at it again and this was giving Douglas a platform going forward, Douglas earned a penalty and put it into touch. They drove the line out and when it hit the deck the ball was recycled through the phases and eventually James Creasey was on hand to score the try.

Douglas really had the bit between their teeth and were disrupting Oldershaw set piece through scrum turnovers and line out steals. Douglas progressed through the phases and eventually Mike Hebden spotted the overlap and a perfectly weighted kick was knocked on, Oldershaw put the ball into the scrum and Bryn Snellgrove pestered the number 8 into an error and Craig McGee picked the ball up and went over the whitewash.

On the half hour mark Douglas had the four try bonus point under wraps, Douglas were in the Oldershaw 22 and when Rob Todd was punished for punching an opponent Oldershaw went for touch but missed. Callum Carine ran the ball back and eventually Glyn Hooson Owen was found ten yeards out but was hauled down just short and Snellgrove was first to react and score.

Oldershaw never stopped harrassing Douglas and were starting to earn penalties and eventually one was deemed kickable and they got 3 points and the score stood at 26 - 3 at half time.

The second half was a lot slower starting than the first and between stoppages for flashes of handbags and the odd back chat there wasnt much happening until Oldershaw slotted another penalty on the hour mark. From the kick off Douglas pressured the catcher and the ball was put out on the 22. Finally the Douglas forwards pulled their driving maul out of the bag and Daryn Thompson was on hand with another push over try.

Douglas once again from the kick off worked the ball up field and into good field position and when a penalty was conceded by Oldershaw snellgrove found the five metre line and a carbon copy try was scored with Daryn Thompson once again dabbing the ball down. The next 25 minutes were a bit of a mess with Douglas being reduced to 14 men for the majority of the remainder of the match. First in the book was Glyn Hooson-Owen who was adjudged to have not rolled away. However without their prop Craig Lea stood in and Douglas were still turning over ball against the Oldershaw pack. The match was ebbing away with neither side putting their stamp on it and Douglas were back to full compliment for a matter of minutes when Paul Leivers was carded for an alledged stamp on an opponent. This didnt slow the game and eventually Douglas reverted to type and slung the ball through the hands and Nathan Pierce was on the right touchline to glide in for his second and Douglas' seventh of the afternoon to put a little gloss on the scoreline.

Credit to Oldershaw as at no point in the game did they give up and their physicality was there right until the final whistle. They will be a match for any team on their day and have demonstrated that they have the passion and if they get a little but of luck and manage to string some results together and fight their way out of the relegation battlefield and to safety.

2E2 Douglas Rugby Club welcome Oldershaw this weekend in a return to action in South Lancs/Cheshire 2.

Both teams are at opposite ends of the table going into this weekend’s clash but Oldershaw know a win will open up a can of fish at the bottom end of the table and can propel them uo the table towards safety and where better than at promotion chasers Douglas. The home side know that Oldershaw are a physical side and do have some pace out wide that can hurt Douglas if they are given the time and space.

There aren’t many changes to the regular Douglas line up with the squad having had 2 weeks off due to the weather and the way the fixtures have fallen. The tight five should remain in tact as it has done most of the season with Carl Markl-Ferns competing with Craig Lea for the hooker berth whilst Killey, Brew, McGee and Murphy will lay claim to back row spots this week.

In the back line Bryn Snellgrove may well continue at 9 with Hebden at stand off with James Wood and Stephen Tansell lining up in the centres. Skipper Goodall, Callum Carine and Nathan Pierce seem the likely back three but Liam King and Andy Corris are also in contention.

This is a well balanced Douglas side that are starting to show good signs of continuity and to avoid using a sledgehammer to crack that old chestnut they are starting to click which hopefully they can do come Saturday.

Oldershaw showed in the reverse fixture that they are in no way pushovers and they stifled Douglas a little that day and with their heavy forwards getting round the park Douglas pack know they have to match that physicality and provide the backs with clean ball at the breakdown to allow them space and time. If Douglas get this early on I can see them hitting their stride and hopefully putting on a good display of attacking rugby.

Kick off is at 2:15 at Port e Chee and all are welcome to attend.

2E2 Douglas Rugby Club hope the elements are on their side for this weeks trip to Dukinfield, another unhappy hunting ground for Waterworth’s warriors where they have never gained a victory. This should be a good game in what is 2nd versus 3rd in the league standings. Douglas have opened up a little gap albeit having played a game more and know Dukinfield will want to claw that difference back come Saturday.

Dukinfield are a strong physical side and like Douglas boast a 100% home record including the scalp of league leaders Sefton. Douglas know that given the chance the well drilled Dukinfield outfit will pin them in the corners and use their pack to good effect to get the field position they want. If Douglas let them get their tails up it will be a case of out of the pot and into the kettle as Douglas will have to wrestle the momentum back from a physical side. Douglas have to stop this side getting any forward momentum if they are to be in with a chance of the victory.

There aren’t too many changes in the Douglas line up this week. Niall Killey’s unavailability means Stephen Tansell will come into number 8. The front five remain the same and Carl Markl-Ferns returns to offer options in the front and back row alongside Conor McCaughan, Nick Horsthuis and Liam Murphy.

In the backline James Wood is available again and should be joined in the centres by Christian Brew with Bryn Snellgrove at 9 and Mike Hebden pulling strings from fly half. Out wide Callum Carine, Andy Corris and Nathan Piece are competing for the winger berths and skipper Goodall will play full back.

This is a very competitive side that Douglas are sending away and in retaining key partnerships and combinations across the park. The tight five will hope they can retain an element of control in the set pieces allowing the back row freedom. With Snellgrove barking orders from 9 the pack will know exactly where they stand and won’t get a moments rest.

Make no mistake Dukinfield are a good outfit and the battle at Port e Chee earlier in the season was a good match with both sides playing good rugby. Douglas must control Dukinfield’s forwards and disrupt their momentum where possible as this is where they have hurt Douglas in the past. If this happens then Douglas are in with more than a shout of victory at the weekend.