REGIONAL 2 NORTH WEST
Douglas travel to face Burnage at Varley Park, a side that only slipped out of North One West in the 2022/23 season and are fourth in this seasons Regional Two North West league.
The two sides had contrasting fortunes last week, with Burnage tripping up at Crewe & Nantwich for their second loss of the campaign, and Douglas re-asserting their intent to climb the league table with a resounding win versus Altrincham Kersal at Port-e-Chee. New Douglas signing Nathan Robson took Man of the Match honours there, but several candidates were hot on his heels. Craig McGee celebrated his return to 1st XV action with a try that crowned a feisty display of barnstorming runs, and Richard Bell, in an earlier than anticipated appearance off the bench, got up a real head of steam.
Josh Duncan revealed his defensive prowess in midfield, Bryn Snellgrove thumped over kicks from distance, and Mark Oldfield, another recent signing, is starting to merge his back-row talent with new surroundings. A 20-0 half-time lead was well deserved, and considering Douglas have made some slow starts this season to date, a welcome one. The 3G surface at Burnage holds no horrors for the visitors, but making a fast start will be key and coach Phil Cringle is conscious of the need to get in to an early top gear.
