Old Mutual Douglas were in good company on a league week-end that saw five of the seven Division One contests settled by a one score margin. It took Douglas winger Riccardo Poloni just 7 minutes to continue a rich vein of try-scoring form, converted by Bryn Snellgrove, but Winnington Park's feisty response was a try and conversion from Richard Williams, and a penalty for 7-10. Douglas centre Will Cain scored after the forwards did the spade work and Snellgrove added the extra's to lead. Guy Wood at full back regularly put Douglas on the front foot but Park were not to be shaken off and a penalty for 14-13 before the break was deserved.
Winger Ben Webb confirmed his potential by shredding Park's defence in a mesmerising run to beat four defenders and score under the posts for 21-13,but Robert Todd's yellow card and a Park try from Tom Knaresby had the hosts looking vulnerable. Although Chris Bollen was in commanding front row form for Douglas, a second yellow card had Shaun Wylie kicking his heels minutes after replacing Dion Spice at scrum half and the penalty put Park in front 21-23 with 5 minutes left on the clock. Before coach Tom Waterworth was in charge Douglas may have blown a gasket, but there was no panic in the home ranks and several phases of ruck and maul with Paul Leivers fronting up put Park squarely in Snellgrove penalty sights. He duly pulled the trigger on a tricky 80th minute penalty conversion to put Douglas in third place and keep an unbeaten Port-e-Chee record.
From The Touchline – travelling supporters are a good barometer to the form of a visiting team. Win or lose, referee’s must have our respect and if that’s not forthcoming, the best ref in the world is going to struggle to ignore a constant barrage. I believe the well meaning supporters probably did more harm than good for their own boys on the green stuff.
