Vagabonds RUFC face Oxton Parkonians in Counties Three ADM Lancashire/Cheshire this Saturday afternoon.

The Merseysiders are no strangers to Manx rugby and were regular visitors to Vagas’ Easter festivals in the 1990s. They’ve even hosted a Ramsey home game at their Wirral ground. The team has been out of the English Clubs Championship for a few years and this season marks their comeback. They’ve had a mixed bag of results, with one win and two draws from five outings.

Notable in that bag is the win: they beat current league leaders Clitheroe in early October so this looks like it won’t be an easy game for Vagas.

But the Ballafletcher side have been going OK themselves, winning three from five despite having to reshuffle the backline following Archie Benson’s injury in game one.

After using skipper Dan Bonwick to fill in at 10, they welcomed back Will Taylor last week which allowed Bonwick to return to the back row where he’s arguably at his most destructive.

Vagas are currently sixth in the standings and a game in hand over some of those above them could potentially see them climb as high as fourth. Statistically, while their defence has been awesome, they’ve scored much fewer points than their nearest competitors.

Bonwick, who normally contributes so often to the scoreboard, has potentially been neutered a little in the 10 jersey and his return to the back row could inspire a change in scoring fortunes.

FIXTURES

Saturday, November 7:

Regional Two North West

Manchester v Douglas @ Manchester ko tbc

Counties Three ADM Lancs/Cheshire

Oxton Parkonians v Vagabonds @ Oxton ko tbc

Women’s NC2 North (West)

Eccles v Vagabonds @ Eccles ko 12pm

Hartford Homes Manx Shield

Southern Nomads v Western Vikings @ Ballakilley Park ko 2.15pm

- Reports from Saturday’s matches will appear in next week’s edition of the Isle of Man Examiner, on sale Tuesday morning.