Match Preview

This weekend sees the curtain fall on the 2018/19 rugby season with the Manx Cup bringing things to an end. The action gets underway at 2.15pm at Ballafletcher where Douglas Celts and Ramsey will duke it out for the Cup in this new look competition.

The competition has for many years been a straight knockout cup but with Douglas’ first team being at such a high level it has in recent years been little more than a procession. This season to help develop both Southern Nomads and Douglas Celts, a new league based format was agreed and the top two would play off for the final. Ramsey topped the league phase but only just. Their clash with the Celts at the Mooragh ended in a 15-15 draw and this augurs well for a close final this week.

Ramsey won their league in the English Clubs Championship losing just once in twenty outings and winning the title with a twenty point gap. They also boasted the most potent attack and the meanest defence. Aside from the defeat away at Oldershaw, the only other points dropped this season were in the drawn game with Douglas Celts. Douglas have been playing domestically and have had a mixed season. Beating Vagabonds and Southern Nomads in the Manx Cup earned them their place in the final however they also claimed a Manx Trophy win against Nomads a fortnight ago. They did however slip up in the Manx Shield competition, losing twice to Southern Nomads to leave them runners up.

Thereonly reported injury in the Ramsey camp is stand off Fintan Cummins who is kept out with an ankle injury picked up on league duty. Scott Kneale was left out of the final league game to make sure he recovered fully and with everyone else fit and available, there’s been a selection headache in most positions. The second row however should be simple with Eddie Lord and Anthony Fergusson both outstanding this season. Another simple call will be Dan Bonwick, he will be among the first names on the team sheet but moves to ten to cover for Cummins. Mark Oldfield partners Dave Keenan in the centre and youngster Dan Richmond gets the nod on the wing.

Douglas have consistently had a powerful front five which has won them games. Dan Creer, Dave Sherwin and Owen Carvin have made a solid front row, but the addition of Dave Hinks from the bench toughens things up even more and with his son Nathan on the Ramsey bench, they could pack down against each other. Mike Osborne on the flank has also looked impressive for Douglas and was man of the match in their recent Trophy win. In the back line Carl Conroy has done a steady job all season and with Charlie Henthorn at full back and Cal Dentith on the wing there’s plenty of counterattacking pace.

The forecast for the weekend looks unsettled with strong wind and the possibility of showers. The recent dry spell however should leave a decent running track at Ballafletcher which may suit Ramsey a little better. If however there’s any significant rainfall at game time, this may just tilt the balance towards Douglas.

Kick off at Ballafletcher is 2.15pm and spectators are asked to park in the main hospital car park in the event that the Sportsground car park is full and please don’t park on the main hospital drive.