The all-Douglas clash in the Manx Trophy competition offered Douglas North the opportunity to secure the title on Saturday.

But Douglas South clearly hadn’t read the script and snatched a 20-17 win with a last-minute Will Cain penalty to make the Trophy a three-way fight.

North remain favourites but South are now in with a shout, as are Vagabonds following their 24-17 defeat of Ramsey at Mooragh Park.

Douglas North’s pacey backline took control of the game in the opening stages and with 15 minutes gone they were 12-0 ahead with everything appearing to be going to plan.

Bryn Snellgrove made the first in the fifth minute. His step created some space out wide for flying machine, Kyle Martin, who raced in down the left touchline.

Ten minutes later full back Charlie Henthorn showed that the Martin brothers aren’t the only quick runners in the team. He joined the backline at full chat and, from inside his own half, scorched downfield to score.

Jack Shimmin added the conversion and favourites North looked to have matters well in hand.

Within another five minutes Douglas South had struck back. While the North backline looked dominant, so was the South forward pack.

Joe Corkish and Owen Carvin were both busy in the loose and they ground themselves into the North 22 where Ralph Clark tunnelled his way to the line through a pile of bodies.

Josh Duncan added the conversion and South were back to within five points.

These duly arrived in the 24th minute. Once again the South pack did the work, forcing themselves close to the try line where Christian Moore was able to wrestle his way over the whitewash to make it a 12-12 game.

North were quick to respond and on the half-hour they broke clear. Kyle Martin found that little bit of space he needed to turn on the turbos and, while the defence felled him just shy of the line, he was able to stretch out an arm to get the ball down to give North a 17-12 half-time lead.

The advantage lasted 12 minutes of the second half. South’s forwards bashed their way upfield and, after Simon Hoddinnott’s crash ball was thwarted illegally, they earned a five-metre penalty.

Before North had a chance to arrange the defensive line, a quick-thinking John Dutnall tapped the penalty and touched down unopposed to level the score at 17-17.

The game remained all-square until the final two minutes. North had the first opportunity when they were awarded a penalty with two to go. Shimmin’s effort drifted left-side of the posts.

From the drop-out restart North again created a chance. This time it was Bryn Snellgrove with a drop goal and his attempt went wide to the right.

The restart went long and South were able to recover the ball. They drove towards the North 22 and were rewarded with a penalty of their own. Will Cain stepped up to the plate and drilled the ball home with the final kick of the match.

VAGABONDS KEEP

THEIR HOPES ALIVE

Vagabonds dominated the other Trophy game at Mooragh Park against Ramsey, picking up a bonus point win to keep their outside chances alive.

Tries from Chris Kay, Nathan Gibson and Mark Oldfield, plus three Luca Simmons conversions, saw Vagas lead 19-5 at half-time, with Rory Nicholson crossing for Ramsey.

In the second half, Luke Purdy secured Vagabonds’s bonus point before a late Ramsey fightback saw Nicholson picking up a second (on his birthday), plus one from Kieran Kneale and a Dan Bonwick conversion.

The results leave Douglas North in charge with two games to play. If they win both, the title is theirs.

South also have two to play and they must win both and hope North slip up.

Vagabonds are the outsiders. They only have one to play, which they must win and hope that the two Douglas sides slip up.

That one game is this Saturday at Ballafletcher against Douglas South.