PDMS Southern Nomads begin their Shimmin Wilson Manx Shield campaign with a trip to defending champions Douglas Celts this Saturday, writes Dave Christian.

The two sides went at it last season and Douglas emerged the stronger in this competition, but in the early-season Manx Trophy, Nomads look to be the form side this time around, winning 26-0 at Port-e-Chee and 26-22 at King William’s College.

The Celts were workmanlike last Saturday against a feisty Vagas B team and, while the scoreline was a healthy 46-5 in Douglas’s favour, Carl Markl-Ferns scored two tries which were personal genius and removing them from the equation leaves a much closer score.

Nomads certainly won’t be as generous in defence as Vagabonds were. Douglas operated with a big pack and if Nomads move them around in the same way as Vagabonds did, they’ll cause problems.

Filipe Pereira, Ralph Clarke and the aforementioned Markl-Ferns were the players to watch for Douglas last Saturday and if available will no doubt put in big shifts.

For Nomads skipper Rob Keelan, pulling on the green shirt will be an unusual treat. He’s played for Ramsey B and Castletown in recent weeks, with Nomads having blanks on the fixture list and he will lead from the front.

Some of his squad got game time against Ramsey B last Saturday which was just what they needed ahead of this clash.

With the only available guide being the Manx Trophy formbook, Nomads will start as favourites but it should be close.

Ramsey aim for

Castletown double

in Shimmin Wilson

Manx Bowl

With the remaining place in the Bowl final heading westwards, Ramsey and Castletown meet for the second time as the northerners look to claim their first double of the season.

They won the earlier encounter at the Mooragh Park 29-17 and, while that was a close scoreline, it was even closer for the spectator with two late tries from Ramsey making the game safe. Both sides lost last Saturday with Town going down to Western Vikings and Ramsey losing on the road at Emerging Nomads.

Town have a stable pack and a backline which has promise. Mike Condra knows his way around a scrummage, Dave Akkulugadu and Kunal Patel have a nice partnership at half back and Mick Shipley outside them scored twice last week.

Ramsey have an up-and-coming pace man in Reece Noden, but the smaller pitch at Poulsom Park may clip his wings a little.

Ramsey manager Mike Caine hasn’t yet had the luxury of a settled team but he may just get it this Saturday and a close game is in prospect.

Fixtures for Saturday, November 3

North One West

Broughton Park v Douglas @ Broughton Park

Lancs/Cheshire Three

Mossley Hill v Vagabonds @ Mossley Hill

Women’s NC North West One

Preston Grasshoppers v Vagabonds @ Preston

Shimmin Wilson Manx Shield

Douglas Celts v PDMS Southern Nomads

@ Port-e-Chee ko 2.15pm

Shimmin Wilson Manx Bowl

Castletown v Ramsey B

@ Poulsom Park ko 2.15pm

Friendly

Mike Henthorn Memorial

Douglas Vets v Vagabonds Vets

@ Port-e-Chee ko 2pm