Holders Douglas put in an accomplished performance to beat Ramsey 32-3 in the semi final of the competition, helped in no small way by the outstanding contribution of full back Bryn Snellgrove who scored two tries and made another two finishing with a personal haul of seventeen points. The game was however much tighter than the score line suggests and two converted tries in the closing stages gave the scoreboard a coat of gloss.

After a long range penalty miss in the ninth minute Scott Kneale kicked Ramsey in front five minutes later. The lead wasn’t to last though and Bryn Snellgrove kicked one at the other end to level it. As the half hour approached, Douglas eased clear. Snellgrove who’d already looked threatening when given space, picked up the ball just outside the Ramsey twenty two and shrugged off the Ramsey cover. Once behind the defence line he danced through two more tackles to score the opening try and make it 8-3. Five minutes later, he opened the defence again. Dan Bonwick’s attempted clearance kick was sliced infield. Snellgrove raced twenty metres to gather it on the hoof. He powered into the Ramsey midfield and produced quick ruck ball which was fired to Steve Tansell before the defence could reorganise and his try gave Douglas a 13-3 half time lead.

With Ramsey’s front five competing in the set piece, the opening period of the second half was stalemate, until twenty minutes in when Douglas finally got a driving maul to go forward. A midfield penalty allowed them to kick for the corner and from the line out Douglas got a forward drive going which was finished off by hooker Rob Todd and his score made the Douglas lead 18-3.

With ten to play, Ramsey’s discipline slipped. Prop Dave Hinks picked up ten minutes in the bin for his part in a scuffle and Douglas took full advantage of the extra man. Will Keenan’s long pass found Bryn Snellgrove in the wide channel and he went on for his second, which he also converted, to make it 25-3. Then with Ramsey still reeling, he put a little grubber kick in behind the defence for Cal Randle who needed no further assistance on his way to the try line. Snellgrove added the extras to round off the scoring.

Douglas will face Vagabonds in next Saturday’s final at Port-e-Chee.

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