Douglas Rugby Club travel to Manchester for the sixth round of fixtures in Regional Two North West this weekend, renewing a rivalry stretching back to 2013-14 when the Manx side won at Grove Park.

Since then both sides have achieved promotions, but the Mancunians lost relegation play-offs last season to drop from Regional One North West to Regional Two.

The Manchester stadium won’t be unfamiliar territory to many of the current Douglas team, as two close encounters in 2021-2022 featured nine of the current squad.

Manchester in fourth won at Burnage last time out, while the Manx team saw off visiting Kirkby Lonsdale at Port-e-Chee to vault up to seventh with a game in hand.

Front-row man Conor Garland missed the last round with a leg injury, but was present at the first training session of the week, while captain Simon Hoddinott and lock Blake Snell were returned to action without any setbacks.

Back-rower Westley Nyman and centre Luke Parry continue to settle in amongst new company and lock Kudzai Chenda looks a good prospect in the engine room.

If all are available and Douglas hit their straps, there could be more valuable away points on the menu.

FIXTURES

Saturday, November 7:

Regional Two North West

Manchester v Douglas @ Manchester ko tbc

Counties Three ADM Lancs/Cheshire

Oxton Parkonians v Vagabonds @ Oxton ko tbc

Women’s NC2 North (West)

Eccles v Vagabonds @ Eccles ko 12pm

Hartford Homes Manx Shield

Southern Nomads v Western Vikings @ Ballakilley Park ko 2.15pm

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

- Get free publicity for your team: email your sports stories to [email protected] for a chance to feature in our newspapers and on our websites.

TONY WILSON-SPRATT