Douglas Rugby Club are at Birkenhead Park en masse on Saturday, as the Merseysiders kick off their delayed league season and Adam Howarth takes an army of Douglas juniors on the Steam Packet boat for a tournament at the same venue.

Phil Cringle has a clean bill of health from his current squad bar the unfortunate Nathan Robson - who suffered a serious injury last week - and will hope new recruit Luke Parry is available again for the Regional Two North West clash.

The form of Matty Wood and the Martin brothers is encouraging, as was the scrum power against a heavier Wilmslow unit.

The Hoddinott, Campbell, Garland trio looked formidable and, with Carvin in the frame, there’s not much respite for the opposition.

Blake Snell returned to the engine room and alongside Kudzai Chenda looked a decent pairing, while Mark Oldfield’s gym fitness now needs game time to translate into a real run of performance.

Last October, Douglas brought back five league points after a 24-32 win at Upper Park, which was a first at the famous old ground for the Manx side.

The fixture also doubled as a Cheshire Cup round and the result probably hastened the demise of the Birkenhead Park coach at the time.

FIXTURES

Saturday, September 26:

Regional Two North West

Birkenhead Park v Douglas @ Birkenhead Park

Counties Three ADM Lancashire/Cheshire

Clitheroe v Vagabonds @ Clitheroe ko 12pm

Women's NC2 North (West)

Didsbury TOC H v Vagabonds @ Didsbury ko 12.30pm

Hartford Homes Manx Shield

Western Vikings v Ramsey @ QEII ko 2.15pm

Reports from the weekend’s matches will appear in next week’s Isle of Man Examiner, on sale Tuesday morning.

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