Douglas Rugby Club climbed to seventh in Regional Two North West after three second-half tries finally sank a highly competitive Kirkby Lonsdale team at Port-e-Chee on Saturday afternoon.

The Cumbrians’ last experience of Manx hospitality two seasons ago saw the fixture cancelled with waterlogged pitches just before kick-off, but in perfect conditions this time, Douglas continued their habit of making strong starts.

Territory from the boot of Matty Wood and clinical lineout work, with hooker Josh Campbell at the core, set up several second-phase drives from the Douglas pack.

Rangy lock Kudzai Chenda surged between tacklers and he took two despairing KL defenders across the try line for an 11th-minute score. Wood tacked on the conversion for a 7-0 lead, but the home side then struggled to kick on.

Several times winger Sam McCord looked odds-on to finish promising positions, only to be hauled down by covering tackles. Kirkby Lonsdale fullback Finlay Holden made two outstanding interventions and, with scrums evenly contested, there was stalemate for 20 minutes.

Kudzai Chenda dives over to open the scoring for Douglas during Saturday's game at Port-e-Chee (Photo: Richard Ebbutt)
Kudzai Chenda dives over to open the scoring for Douglas during Saturday's game at Port-e-Chee (Photo: Richard Ebbutt) (Richard Ebbutt)

Then Douglas earned a penalty when KL failed to release on the ground and Wood slotted the three-pointer for 10-0.

The visitors responded and built up a head of steam in Douglas territory, with centre Brendan Lawson inflicting the initial damage in midfield. KL skipper Tony Briggs steamrolled through from short range and Ollie Higgs converted for a 10-7 scoreline at the interval.

For five minutes of the second period, honours were even. Douglas cap centurion Owen Carvin brought his experience to bear with a thudding tackle, KL countered with winger Gary Oates nearly running clear, and Craig Martin backed up a piercing Wood kick to the KL 22-metre line.

Campbell’s lineout throw was on the button, Blake Snell snaring the catch with authority, and a turbocharged drive from the Douglas maul saw scrum-half Jonty Shimmin burst through to the line. Wood added the extras for 17-7 after 50 minutes and there was more to come.

New South African recruit and flanker Wesley Snyman muscled over, giving Wood an easy conversion angle for 24-7, and coach Phil Cringle made some changes: Mark Oldfield, Ralph Clarke and Oli Corkish emerged off the bench and again the Manx men clicked.

Harry Cartwright and Simon Hoddinott steered the Douglas maul forward after fullback Kyle Martin and centre Luke Parry made ground, and man of the match Campbell grounded wide out for the bonus-point try at 29-7.

The Manx side saw out the remaining eight minutes to jump two places over Wilmslow and Widnes, and with a game in hand.

Douglas squad: S. Hoddinott (c), J. Campbell, O. Carvin, K. Chenda, B. Snell, C. Dentith, W. Snyman, H. Cartwright, J. Shimmin, M. Wood, C. Martin, L. Parry, K. Martin, S. McCord, J. Duncan, O. Corkish, M. Oldfield, R. Clarke.

Blake Snell rises highest to claim a lineout for Douglas against Kirkby Lonsdale (Photo: Richard Ebbutt)
Blake Snell rises highest to claim a lineout for Douglas against Kirkby Lonsdale (Photo: Richard Ebbutt) (Richard Ebbutt)

RESULTS

Saturday, October 31:

Regional Two North West

Douglas 29-7 Kirkby Lonsdale

Counties Three ADM Lancashire/Cheshire

Vagabonds 24-15 St Edwards Old Boys

Women's NC2 North (West)

Vagabonds 40-21 Macclesfield