rugby

Old Mutual Douglas travel to Vale of Lune at Powderhouse Lane in Lancaster in North One West this Saturday.

The Manx side are currently on a run of five wins under their belts, including league leaders Wilmslow last time out at Port-e-Chee.

Vale may be in ninth but have a game in hand after bad weather caused postponement of their last fixture at Broughton Park.

After Vale won promotion to Premier North alongside Wilmslow in 2017-18, both sides came straight back down and suggested bridging the divisional gap was a tough ask.

However, Carlisle and Blackburn were top dogs in North One West last season and both are currently mid-table in Premier North.

Vale of Lune tripped up at home against Penrith two weeks ago and Altrincham Kersal in September, and will be aware Douglas are unfazed away from home.

Travelling is in their DNA, and in Vale’s championship-winning year the Manx side upset the apple cart with a 21-34 win in Lancaster and halted an eight-match winning streak.

The Douglas squad misses Paul Leivers up front, but the availability of Craig McGee and a restored Carl Murray helps balance the books.

TONY WILSON-SPRATT

Squad:

Harry Raven, Mike Dunnett, Ralph Clark, Ben Klassen, Jordan Hogan, Sam Games, Niall Killey, Seth Waterworth, Shaun Wyllie, Aidan O’Shea, Ethan Pocklington, Carl Murray, Adam Boyd, Will Cain, Ollie Mealin, James Maddrell, Lance Wyllie, Craig McGee.