Ramsey Rugby Club picked up their first Hartford Homes Manx Shield win of the season with a 71-0 victory over Western Vikings at QEII High School on Saturday.

The northerners led 40-0 at half-time before closing the game out with 11 tries in total.

The action started right from the kick-off as Vikings earned a five-metre scrum deep in their own half. The Ramsey front five applied pressure in the set piece which resulted in a disrupted box kick.

Northern flanker Conor Cracknell charged down the kick and dabbed the ball down for the opening score with less than two minutes played. Dan Kelly converted.

In the fifth minute, the visitors were in again. Matt Meechan made a big break in midfield to give field position, before the ball was shipped left where Kieran Kneale applied the finish.

Just approaching the 10th minute, they bagged a third. Kneale turned provider this time and he broke multiple tackles to get to within touching distance of the Viking line.

The ball went right this time and Meechan was on hand to finish. Kelly converted and with 10 minutes played the lead was 19-0.

The Vikings defence then put up the shutters for 10 minutes before Ramsey scored again. Vikings were on the attack in the northerners' half and earned a useful attacking scrummage but were shunted off the ball.

Kelly punted downfield and Vikings conceded a five-metre lineout. Ramsey tried a set piece move at the front and, when this didn’t bear fruit, they went to the back where a charging Cracknell dived in for his second. Kelly converted.

A Jake Richmond double in the run up to half-time, both converted by Kelly, gave Ramsey a healthy 40-0 lead at the break.

There was a Viking rally in the second and, while they didn’t score, the defence firmed up and the opening 20 minutes were scoreless and only broken when Meechan plunged over from the back of a lineout to pick up his second.

With 15 to go, Cracknell benefitted from a Vikings turnover and completed his hat-trick, with Kelly converting to make it 52-0.

In the final 10 minutes Ramsey ran in a further three tries. Richmond completed his hat-trick, Kelly went in from short range and in the final play of the game Scott Kneale got in on the action too.

Kelly converted two of these three to give himself a personal tally of 21 points.

RESULTS

Saturday, September 26:

Regional Two North West

Birkenhead Park 39-10 Douglas

Counties Three ADM Lancs/Cheshire

Clitheroe 43-7 Vagabonds

Women's NC2 North (West)

Didsbury TOC H 5-57 Vagabonds

Hartford Homes Manx Shield

Western Vikings 0-71 Ramsey