Douglas suffer at Broughton Park

Douglas’s big game against Broughton Park in South Lancashire/Cheshire Division One ended in a 41-7 defeat as their hosts closed the gap to a very congested top of the table.

Douglas were unable to shake off their travelling blues and were 34-7 down by half-time, with a Guy Wood try and a Bryn Snellgrove conversion their only high points.

They played much better in the second half and only conceded one further score but were unable to break a well-organised defence.

Vagabonds beaten at Heaton

Things weren’t so good for Vagabonds on the road either as their journey in South Lancs/Cheshire Division Two took them to mid-table Heaton Moor where they lost 61-7.

Vagas’ only ray of sunshine on an otherwise dark day was a popular try from veteran prop Rob Martin which was converted by Cam Inglis.

Ramsey take bonus point win

A 78th minute try from Aboo Migoda gave Ramsey maximum points in a hard-fought battle with Oxton Parkonians at the Mooragh in South Lancs/Cheshire Division Three.

First-half tries from John F. Watling (2) and Neil Long, plus a Dan Bonwick conversion gave Ramsey a 17-3 half-time lead, with Jack Fletcher pulling back a penalty for Parkonians.

In the second half Fletcher added another penalty and a try to bring Parkonians to within six points with five minutes to play.

A penalty from Dan Bonwick gave Ramsey some breathing space and they threw everything into the closing stages when Migoda snatched the bonus point.

Vagas Ladies downed at Chester

Vagas Ladies’ faint hopes of a promotion place in Women’s NC North One were dashed at Chester where they lost 10-5 to Chester Devas.

Jules Harrison continued her scoring run with Vagas’ only score of the match.

Chester now mover ahead of Vagas and, with Vagas only having three games to play, a top-two finish now seems unlikely.

Western Vikings and Douglas B to meet in Plate Final

Western Vikings beat Emerging Nomads 29-10 at QEII to book their place in the Shimmin Wilson Manx Plate final.

Jack Goodwin, Ash Howard, Ed Alderson, Liam Sweeney and Sam Tarpey all crossed for Vikings tries with Ryan Burl converting two.

Gerard Landels and Jacob Callow picked up consolations for Nomads. Douglas B also made it through with a comfortable 72-5 defeat of Castletown at Port-e-Chee.

Seamus Doolan, Mike Osbourne, Aaron Mason and Andy Colley were all among the Douglas scorers while Paul Drake picked up the consolation score for Castletown.

In the Shimmin Wilson Manx Shield there was one fixture scheduled between Vagabonds B and Ramsey B.

Vagas were, however, struggling for numbers and conceded the match before kick off.

Despite that, the players elected to play a ’red v blacks’ friendly which the former won 49-42.

More rugby in Tuesday’s Isle of Man Examiner.

Results from Saturday, January 28:

South Lancs/Cheshire Division One

Broughton Park 41-7 Douglas

South Lancs/Cheshire Division Two

Heaton Moor 61-7 Vagabonds

South Lancs/Cheshire Division Three

Ramsey 25-11 Oxton Parkonians

Women’s NC North One

Chester Devas 10-5 Vagabonds

Shimmin Wilson Manx Plate

Western Vikings 29-10 Emerging Nomads

Douglas B 72-5 Castletown

Shimmin Wilson Manx Shield

Vagabonds B v Ramsey B - away win

(Friendly played with result Reds 49, Blacks 42)