Douglas Rugby Club’s Under-16s stormed to the Cheshire Shield title after beating Wirral 39-19 at Crewe and Nantwich’s ground on Sunday.

A 9am Ronaldsway start and arrival an hour before kick-off was hardly ideal preparation, but a powerful first-half performance put the Manx side in the driving seat against the Shield favourites.

After five minutes the Douglas scrum held sway 15 metres from the Wirral line and quick ball to Ethan Audsley saw the Douglas winger sprint in.

Jack Shimmin’s second conversion attempt, after an illegal charge down, was successful for 7-0 and Douglas then really put their foot on the gas.

Ten minutes in and after six pairs of hands took Douglas from deep in defence on the counter, Craig Martin galloped over under the posts and Shimmin converted for 14-0.

At 20 minutes, a lineout drive and a surging maul with front-rowers Tommy Skillicorn and Sam Morris prominent brought Douglas to within five metres and John Dutnall thundered through from number eight to score.

Wirral steadied the 19-0 listing ship at the half-hour mark as Charlie Lipton barrelled upfield for a try which Evan Robinson converted for 19-7.

Wirral indiscipline as Douglas flanker Jack Johnson threatened turnovers gave Shimmin a chance to bang over a penalty for 22-7.

Man of the Match Dutnall was a thorn in Wirral’s side with his tackling and his thoughtful play.

As the clock ticked toward the break, a deft Dutnall chip had Kyle Martin on the chase and the flanker’s nose for an opportunity was rewarded as the ball took a deflection of a Wirral player and bounced kindly for Martin to race over.

Shimmin converted for 29-7 to finish the half, and straight after the interval Craig Martin at scrum-half combined with twin brother Kyle to dart over.

Shimmin’s conversion was missed and Wirral were not done.

The forwards drove Douglas off the loose ball, Robinson chipped over the Douglas defence, and his pace won the race to the touch down.

Robinson converted for 34-14 with 10 minutes remaining, but it was Dutnall who put another nail in the Wirral downfall.

Douglas skipper Thomas Coleman chose the penalty kick to the corner and, as the pressure built from lineout to maul to scrum, the Douglas number eight picked and drove past defenders for a fine score.

Wirral flanker Lawrie Stafford had the last say with a final-minute try that had its origins in great support work, but by then Douglas were home and hosed and bringing more silverware back to Port-e-Chee.