Western Vikings edged out Ramsey B 52-36 in a try-fest in rugby’s Ravenscroft Manx Plate at QEII on Saturday afternoon.

Vikings got the better of the early exchanges and were in front after six minutes. They earned a penalty five metres out from the Ramsey line and prop Josh Hockney crashed in for the opening score which Ryan Burke converted.

Four minutes later the lead was doubled. A Ramsey goal-line clearance was held up in the strong wind, Vikings skipper Ed Knight fielded the kick around the 22 and offloaded to a charging Jack Goodwin who powered in for the first of his two tries. Burke again converted and the lead was 14-0.

After 25 minutes, Ramsey’s Connor Casey got his side on the board. He broke down the left wing and weaved through two tackles to score. But it was his last contribution to the game as he was knocked out in the act of scoring and left the field.

With five to go till half-time, Ramsey trailed by nine and felt that, with the wind behind them in the second half, the game was winnable. But Vikings struck three quick hammer blows in those five minutes which effectively sealed the result.

The western backline hit its straps and, after six phases, the Ramsey defence was stretched to its limits and Toby Poole-Wilson slid through for his first senior try.

From the restart, Ramsey briefly flickered back into life when Danny Howard raced in for a long-range score and Darragh Pilkington converted.

That was the end of the resistance though. Vikings regathered their own restart and Morgan Armstrong-Paton crashed in for the try and he was swiftly followed in by Knight wide on the left. Burke added both conversions and, when the half-time whistle went, Vikings were 33-12 in front.

As the second half started, Ramsey applied pressure as Ben Harding’s wind-assisted kick gave them field position and the back drove for the line.

The drive was turned over though and Knight ran clear for Vikings. His offload found Poole-Wilson with a clear run in from 50 metres and the youngster was uncatchable. Burke added another conversion and the Vikings lead was 40-12.

The Ramsey comeback started in the 53rd minute when Kieran Kneale and Howard interplayed down the Vikings left flank, with Howard applying the finish for his second of the game.

Then, 11 minutes later after a period of pressure on the Vikings line, Ramsey full back Richmond sneaked over from a quickly-tapped penalty. Pilkington converted and the lead was 40-24.

Burke restored the Vikings advantage but two tries in five minutes from Ramsey centre Richmond got the home crowd twitching.

He danced clear of the defence wide on the right for his first and backed up Paul Carine to finish off for his second and, when Richmond chipped over the conversion, the Vikings lead was 45-36 with five to play.

With some order needed in the Vikings team, veteran Mark Bienvenu stepped up. The replacement prop broke clear from the halfway line and when his drive ended he offloaded to Jack Goodwin who had too much pace and power as he slid in for the final try of the game. Brother Harry added the conversion to claim the win.

Elsewhere in the Manx Plate, Vagabonds Hornets overcame Emerging Nomads 34-7 at Ballakilley.

Cole Donnelly, Paul Howard, Stephan de Beer, Matt Rockwell, Callum Murray and Harri Wallis all crossed for Vagas, with Ed Alderson and Wallis kicking a conversion apiece.

For Nomads it was youngster Liam Savage who crossed the line for his second try in two games, with Pat Creer adding the extras.

Results

Saturday, February 12:

North One West

Carlisle 28-12 Douglas

Ravenscroft Manx Plate

Western Vikings 52-36 Ramsey B

Emerging Nomads 7-34

Vagabonds Hornets