Old Mutual Douglas took maximum points from a ferociously-contested match full of quality and resolve to move up to sixth with a game in hand in North One West.

On a green baize and against a slight breeze, Douglas started the stronger and had an advantage in the tight but were frustrated by losing possession at crucial moments.

Waterloo hoisted a couple of kicks with the wind, but as Guy Murray and Carl Murray gobbled up counter-attack opportunities, Waterloo changed tack.

However, the English side got no change from a powerful Douglas defence where prop Todd McDowell and lock Max Singer were formidable.

Sam Games and skipper Niall Killey too vied for highest tackle count and Murray it was who broke the deadlock to score via another muscular burst, with Bryn Snellgrove adding the two-point conversion.

Two more penalties from Snellgrove and three in reply from Waterloo full back Darah O’Brian ushered in the half-time break and, considering all the action, a scarcely credible 13-9 scoreline.

Douglas authority was applied as Snellgrove showed how to harness the breeze at his back, and Waterloo counters were closed down by a suffocating defence.

The relentless pressure brought dividends and Douglas number eight Liam Kirkpatrick smashed through tackles to set Douglas away at the 60-minute mark.

Snellgrove wove a try-scoring path through a desperate Waterloo backline after the Douglas forwards thundered into the Waterloo 22, and flanker Guy Byatt scored a try when a defiant Waterloo break-out held nerve and Douglas lock Paul Leivers was yellow-carded.

Douglas rang the changes and Dom Winrow, Mike Dunnett and Aidan O’Shea lightened the bench to yield the bonus point fourth try as Adam Boyd polished off a dazzling Douglas performance.

Results from Saturday,

North One West

Douglas 34-16 Firwood Waterloo

Lancs/Cheshire Division Three

Vagabonds 15-8 Ellesmere Port

Oldershaw 27-22 Ramsey

Women’s NC North West One

Kendal Wasps 39-27 Vagabonds

Shimmin Wilson Manx Trophy

Southern Nomads 26-22 Douglas Celts

Shimmin Wilson Manx Bowl

Western Vikings AWO Vagabonds B

Ramsey B 29-17 Castletown

Friendly

Western Vikings 46-33 Vagabonds B