National League round 24 Saturday 19th March
Old Mutual Douglas host old foes Liverpool Collegiate who have some inconsistent results of late. Occupying 12th place in Division One, the visitors have recorded home and away wins over higher placed opposition, but last week’s 52 point drubbing at 10th placed Bowdon was their worst loss of the season. Considering Collegiate thumped visiting 9th-placed New Brighton the week prior, they are a difficult team to call.
Douglas lose in-form Adam Boyd, and Shaun Wyllie and Will Cain are injury doubts, but the return of Akkie Van Den Berg, Lance Wyllie, Stephen Tansell and Scott Goodall are major fillips. Niall Killey and Duncan Wilson have also returned to full training, and several options surface around the midfield in the absence of Dion Spice. The likely shuffle includes Bryn Snellgrove stepping in at scrum-half, with the talents of Will Archer and Luke Hyland at 10 and 12. Nathan Knights is a deserved starter on the wing after graduating through the ranks and showing impressive form, and Chris Beaumont and skipper Glyn Hooson-Owen are keen to make up for lost time. If the Douglas pack take command and the weather continues to allow the playing surface to improve, it is difficult to see Collegiate getting off this particular hook in front of the Members lunch crowd.
Douglas squad - Chris Bollen Carl Markyl-Ferns Jareth Mackay Paul Leivers
Glyn Hooson-Owen Chris Beaumont Akkie Van Den Berg Lance Wyllie Bryn Snellgrove Will Archer Ben Webb Luke Hyland Stephen Tansell Nathan Knights
Scott Goodall Duncan Wilson Niall Killey Nick Hughes.
