SEFTON v DOUGLAS

The Euphoria is back in rugby following Wales’s resurgence and Douglas returning to form with back to back wins in what where probably their best two performances of the season. However this euphoria must be tempered with caution as this weekend both sides are required to travel to face more difficult tests with Douglas taking on Sefton who lie immediately above them in the league.

Douglas will be buoyed by their past two performances which whilst crucial for the moral and enjoyment of the side turn out to be almost as important with regard to league position. Since Christmas the form book in the league has almost entirely been reversed and sides that could barely scrape a win for neither love nor money before the New Year are suddenly the form horses in the division. Douglas are well above the relegation dog fight but it shows how easily it is to become embroiled if you take your eye off the ball for a moment.

Douglas’s matches against Sefton have traditionally been close low scoring affairs with Douglas winning at home 8-3 earlier this season which was some revenge for losing 3-0 in the corresponding away fixture last year. There has also been at times little love lost between the two sides but that animosity has died away in recent matches following Sefton’s coach moving on. This was a universally popular move apart from possibly at the club he joined and their opponents so it is expected that the game will continue to be played in this spirit.

Buoyed by their recent performances Douglas will go into the game with plenty of confidence. They will also be strengthened by the return of captain Andy Malpass from a break skiing to add a bit of weight to a pack which was a bit lightweight last week against Prenton. Having said that despite being at a considerable weight disadvantage they never capitulated and let Prenton dominate. Provided everybody else is fit and available this is the only expected change I can see to the pack although Ben Kelly might come into consideration having had a run out for the second team last week having been out recently with damaged ribs.

The success of recent weeks in the side has been the backs who have really struck form and are at last making good use of the ball that the forwards have been providing them for most of the season. Much of this has been down to finding a decent half back combination in Bobby Ranscombe and John Hill. Unfortunately John is likely to be absent on Saturday having picked up a hamstring injury early in the game against Prenton however Ben Manuja stepped into the breach pretty well and I would expect him to continue there on Saturday.  Otherwise the backs are fairly settled with plenty of cover for the centres and wings if required.

  Sefton like Douglas are now only playing for a league place but they have had a pretty good run of form recently including victory against Manchester Wanderers and a narrow lose to Wallasey who are the top two sides in the league. A considerable amount of pride will be at stake as the match may well decide the final league placings as a win for Douglas should enable the Manx side to leapfrog them in the league come the end of season.

  Sefton though not be a push over but are eminently beatable if Douglas play to their ability and travel with a strong side. However as is often the case unavailability does occasionally weaken Douglas when they travel so home advantage should see Sefton home. If I had to see only one away win this weekend this is a result I would reluctantly take if the trade off a victory for the welsh in Ireland. Nemesis would see the sole away victory being for England in Scotland and surely I can not have been that bad in a previous life to deserve that.