DOUGLAS v MARPLE

It is naffing typical that just when you are expecting a home banker and being able to relax and sit back and watch as the tries are run in the opposition go and suddenly decide to go and hit a bit of form. All of a sudden Douglas ’s home match against Marple this weekend does not appear as much as a walk in the park as it did before Christmas.

On paper with Douglas having home advantage the Manx side should run out comfortable winners as they are lying comfortably in mid table whilst Marple are struggling at the bottom. The Manx side have also already travelled to Marple this season and picked up the points. This would all point to a victory for a home side.

Marple though have turned it around since the new year having won there last two matches. Prior to that although they had picked up a couple of points and had a few close games against some of the better sides they looked like relegation certainties. However over Christmas they reorganised their  playing and coaching structure and this is already paying dividends. With Douglas also in a position where promotion or relegation is most unlikely Marple may be playing with a slightly greater incentive & motivation than the home side.

Douglas are likely to play a fairly strong side with several players returning after being unavailable to travel to Wallasey last time out. However captain Andy Malpass is keeping his selection thoughts fairly close to his chest, i.e. he has got his mobile phone turned off, and it may be that again he will select some of the club's promising youngsters either to start or on the bench. With no second team game he has plenty of flexibility to do this and having seen nearly thirty at training this week on a dank windy evening now may not be the best time to miss a session if you want to be selected.

The kick off for the match has been brought forward to 2.00pm . It is a match I fully expect Douglas to win but and they will have to start strongly to try and knock the recently restored confidence out of the Marple side. If Douglas can get two or three early scores I would expect them to run out comfortable winners but if they allow Marple to remain in the game then they might find they have a bit more of a fight on there hands than expected

Gethin Taylor