Douglas Obliterate New Brighton 61-19
Old Mutual Douglas mauled visiting New Brighton in Division One, but a never-say-die attitude from the Wirral side and the hosts taking their foot imperceptibly off the gas kept the contest alive. Two tries in the opening 10 minutes from rapid Douglas winger Sam Randle set the template, and Shaun Wyllie from scrum-half added a third after 20 minutes. When ex-boxer and second-row Dom Winrow stormed over and Luke Hyland added the conversion, New Brighton were truly on the ropes and faced a half-time deficit of 26 unanswered points. Major contributors to the visitors discomfort included newly-wed James Wood with crunching tackles in midfield, alongside the diminutive but powerful newcomer Conor Stephens (pic). Douglas 
front-row Simon Hoddinnot rampaged around most of Port-e-Chee, and Lance Wyllie signalled his intent with strong carries through heavy traffic. New Brighton’s attempts at breaking the shackles only returned possession to a Douglas back three blessed with serious gas. Every aspect of the hosts game came good in the sunshine, and even a second yellow card in two appearances for Winrow was mitigated by his taking one for the team on this occasion. After the break Carl Murray gave glimpses of international class while prompting the likes of winger Adam Boyd to excel, and skipper Glyn Hooson-Owen ploughed a furrow through a defence beginning to suffer from fatigue. New Brighton did 
counter successfully when Douglas ambition turned to hasty defence, and three tries from Ned Brooks, Mike Smith and Tom Brie were symptomatic of a spirited team. Randle however was in merciless form and twisted the knife with another three tries, and number 8 Lance Wyllie surged over for a score to keep family honours even. Aaron Mason, Will Cain and Karl Evans stepped off the bench to turn up the heat, and Paul Leivers revelled in the space unveiled by a dominant front five. Murray’s try and Hyland’s conversion with 5 minutes remaining was the final nail in a coffin long since deep underground.
*Club member and ex-player Laurie Kearns remarked in the Clubhouse post-match that this ‘was possibly the finest Douglas team ever’. Certainly with Bryn Snellgrove and Carl Markyl-Ferns unavailable, the bench packed with qualityand many Celts staking a claim to a 1st XV berth, this could be lauded as the strongest squad in living memory . .
**Thanks to Sue Horsthuis, Rose Waterworth, Fidelma Bradley and Claire Wilson-Spratt for administering lunch to the guests, and to the players post-match . . xxxxx
