28TH SEPTEMBER - REGIONAL 2 NORTH WEST
Popular visitors Vale of Lune come to Port-e-Chee with two wins under their belts, last week versus Crewe & Nantwich, and Northwich in the opening round. The caning at Bowdon in between simply highlights how competitive this R2NW league is, as Bowdon were beaten at newcomers Sandbach last Saturday.
While Douglas were on the cusp of a precious away win last week and fell at the last, they looked the real deal for much of the match and will be stronger for the experience. And good news on the selection front as Carl Markl-Ferns and James Ross should be available, and Owen Carvin, the promising young prop, has a better prognosis that may see him back in to contention sooner than thought. Markl-Ferns brings options for coach Cringle in the pack, although not much was wrong at the coal face even with Harry Cartwright moved up to lock.
Ross is another piece of the jigsaw that could fall nicely in to place amongst the three-quarters. His delayed debut due to injury has been frustrating for player and club, but the temptation to return too quickly has been wisely avoided and will pay dividends. Bryn Snellgrove’s return last week harvested a faultless four conversions, and ‘cometh the hour . . ‘ springs to mind. Whether a full-on Lazurus epic or a brief cameo is yet to surface, but either way his club called and he responded.
