Sponsored by
A bruising encounter
TACKLED: Castletowns Will Stanton is stopped in his tracks by a Western Vikings back during the bruising encounter at Peel
CASTLETOWN claimed their first victory of the Shimmin Wilson Manx Shield season with a hard-fought victory over Western Vikings at the QEII School on Saturday.
The latter triumphed away at Emerging Nomads a week earlier in their first game since reforming, but it was Town who started the brighter of the two sides and edged ahead when scrum-half Chris Mash knocked over a penalty.
Vikings cause then took a further early blow when playmaker Mark Venables was taken off with a head injury. The Vikings’ fly-half was the first of several to be forced to the sidelines in what would develop into a bruising encounter.
The visitors took advantage of the Vikings’ reshuffle with hooker Craig Glover and man of the match Barry Irvine crossing the whitewash, the latter twice. With winger Matt Quine adding two conversions, Town seemingly had a comfortable lead as the half-time break neared.
However, cheered on by a large partisan home crowd, Vikings hit back through impressive hooker Paul Wheeldon, Rich Little and number eight Tony Grundy. Indeed only some big hits in defence from Dan James’s Poulsom Park outfit prevented the hosts from drawing level as the Peel side looked determined to get something from their first home game of the campaign.
After absorbing the pressure, Town eventually broke clear of their 22 late in the second half, Mick Shipley charging down the left to land the decisive score.
Vikings again tried to hit back, but some further strong defence ensured the southerners returned back down the Ballamodha straight with the points in hand.
In the other Shield game, Vagabonds B walloped Emerging Nomads 70-7 at Ballafletcher.
Ste Gawne and Andy Pease both ran in hat-tricks for Vagas with other scores coming from Jamie Cooke, Ross Jones, Mark McGreal, Floyd Askin and Joe Louw.
Skipper Michael Oates kicked three conversions and Mark McGreal two. Nomads’ consolation try came from James Parker.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Isle of Man
Saturday 25 May 2013
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 7 C to 13 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 10 C to 13 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: South west
