Ramsey Rugby Club beat Vagabonds 35-24 in the Hartford Homes Manx Plate Final on Saturday to take some silverware back to Mooragh Park after a tough season.

The highlight of the game at Port-e-Chee was a hat-trick from wing Jonny Mason.

He broke multiple tackles in the fifth minute to put Ramsey ahead, with Dan Kelly’s conversion making it 7-0.

A fumbled Ramsey lineout in the 12th minute allowed Vagas back in though. Skipper Dan Bonwick snapped up the loose ball and showed his own driving power as he surged over the line to make it 7-5.

But the resurgence was short-lived. Ramsey recovered the ball from the restart and Josh Corteen’s break created space out wide for wing Brayden Roche to score. Kelly added another conversion to make it 14-5.

As the 25th minute ticked by, Vagas struck back. The northerners had conceded a string of penalties in their own 22 and, when the catch and drive lineout failed, Vagas used the backline.

Paul Howard did the heavy lifting to get close to the line and from the ensuing ruck scrum-half Brendan Kelly sneaked in from close range to make it 14-10.

A Dan Kelly penalty just before the half-hour stretched the Ramsey lead to 17-10 but, as half-time approached, Vagas struck back to tie the game.

They set up a driving maul close to the Ramsey line and prop Matt Rockwell was the beneficiary. His try was converted by Theo Head to level the match at 17-17 when the teams turned around.

The first 15 minutes of the second half were scoreless but, after 17 minutes, that changed.

Ramsey were pouring forward in attack until Vagas’ Jack Cutts picked off a loose pass and ran 80 metres downfield to score. He converted his own try and Vagas took the lead for the first time in the game.

The lead lasted until the 64th minute when the northerners struck twice in quick succession.

Replacement wing Adam Clark broke through on the right-hand touchline and set up possession deep in Vagas territory. The ball was recycled quickly and Mason was on hand to grab his second of the afternoon.

From the restart, Ramsey fullback Dan Kelly found a little bit of running room and he made big yardage. The ball was then spread left where Brandon Atchison had a dart before sending Kieran Kneale in to score and put Ramsey back in front at 27-24.

Dan Kelly added his second penalty of the game as the clock entered the final 10 minutes which meant Vagas needed to score a converted try to win.

Two minutes later though, it was all over. Mason swooped on a dropped ball inside the Vagas’ 22 and dived in for his hat-trick and made the game safe for Ramsey.

RESULTS

Saturday, May 2:

Hartford Homes Manx Plate final

Ramsey 35-24 Vagabonds

Hartford Homes Manx Cup final

PDMS Southern Nomads 5-43 Douglas Celts

- A report from the Manx Cup final between Southern Nomads and Douglas Celts appeared in this week’s edition of the Isle of Man Examiner, still on sale now.