29TH NOVEMBER - REGIONAL 2 NORTH WEST
There’s no doubt this one will be a toughie. Widnes in 5th arrive on the back of two good wins and only four points behind Douglas having narrowly lost to leaders Sandbach and beating North Ribblesdale in October. In September 2024 the ‘Wids’ left Port-e-Chee with a 13-15 win when Douglas missed a last minute penalty, although a 5-36 Douglas win at Widnes later in the season was the perfect salve as Douglas hit their straps.
All the difficult decisions come with team selection this week, and the win at Waterloo makes skipper Blake Snell and coach Phil Cringle’s job that little bit harder. For example, flanker John Dutnall didn’t make the travelling squad to Waterloo, and for a player of such calibre to miss out indicates a very strong back-row choice. Of course Dutnall will be hungrier than ever for game time, and the incumbents will be well aware at training on Tuesday and Thursday that places can still be won or lost.
The battle royal for front-row starts continues, as Owen Carvin, Simon Hoddinott and Conor Garland showed well against a heavier Waterloo pack. Josh Campbell at hooker, recently called up to the Lancashire under 20 squad, grows stronger game by game, and Ethan Kermode in the second-row is also flourishing in the club environment after his move back from University.
Last week’s full-back debutant Jack Wallis made a solid start and barely put a foot wrong at Waterloo. He’s another to pave the way for youngsters on the fringes where young but experienced heads in Harry Hewson, Josh Duncan and Kyle and Craig Martin, and the flourishing half-back partnership of Nathan Robson and Matty Wood, couldn’t be a better nursery.
Winger Oli Corkish took a knock last week and is the only fitness question mark in the three-quarters, while Snell will be testing out a ribcage rattle.
Kick off 13.30
