Douglas Rugby Club slumped to a 39-10 defeat against Birkenhead Park in Regional Two North West on Saturday.

The Manx side's highlights came in the fifth and 65th minutes at the Merseysiders' Upper Park ground.

In perfect conditions, number eight Harry Cartwright ploughed over in the corner for a fifth-minute unconverted try as the Douglas pack scrummed and mauled effectively. The rest of the half saw the islanders vainly try to rediscover the scoring recipe and unleashing running power out wide, and ultimately paid the price.

A dropped sitter of a high ball which Park hacked on to score and tries from Jack Ashcroft plus two penalties kicked by number 10 Liam Isaacs saw the hosts in command 25-5 at the break.

Douglas lineouts weren’t the usual slick operation and man of the match Park flanker Matt Walls was a constant thorn in the Manx side's aspirations.

John Dutnall, Jonty Shimmin and Conor Garland emptied the Douglas bench, but two tries from Walls and Adam Roscoe, both converted by Isaacs, stretched the Park lead to 39-5.

Opportunities came and went for Douglas where tap and go penalty chances were spurned for territory, before skipper Simon Hoddinott surged through tackles for a late consolation try.

Douglas Rugby Club squad: S. Hoddinott (c), J. Campbell, O. Carvin, B. Snell, K. Chenda, T. Chenda, C. Dentith, H. Cartwright, C. Martin, M. Wood, W. Kermode, L. Parry, O. Corkish, S. McCord, K. Martin, C. Garland, J. Dutnall, J. Shimmin.

TONY WILSON-SPRATT

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