REGIONAL 2 NORTH WEST
KICK OFF 14.15 - MEMORIAL GROUND, LIVERPOOL
The long awaited supporters tour has bitten the weather dust as the potential storm Kathleen takes a grip on the Irish sea. A real shame as Ian Aldred had gathered a great crew together. The team are flying over and should beat the anticipated ravaging.
Douglas wrap up a seventh season of level 6 league rugby at Blundellsands, where Waterloo in second have ceded the Regional Two North West league title to Birkenhead Park. The opening league fixture of the season in September saw Waterloo steal away from Port-e-Chee with a 6-8 win, the difference stemming from no pre-season matches available to Douglas from either local sides or visiting teams. Nine of that Douglas squad are unavailable or injured this time around, but with level 6 rugby now guaranteed for next season, coach Phil Cringle will want to finish on a high. Skipper Blake Snell is recovering from a shoulder injury, and scrum-half Kyle Martin is unavailable as is front-row man Rob Todd. Owen Carvin steps in for Todd, and Craig McGee covers the back-row conundrum very effectively, while the number 9 shirt has several possible candidates. Simon Hoddinott and Sam McCord remain the form men up front and in open prairie, and with Manx Cup business just around the corner, Douglas will look to fine-tune the options.
Squad - Simon Hoddinott, Jack Laughnane, Owen Carvin, Conor Garland, Ralph Clarke, Oli Corkish, Craig McGee, Liam Kirkpatrick, Cal Dentith, Luke Hyland, Wilf Kermode, Harry Hewson, Joe Corkish, Guy Barrons, Sam McCord, Brendan Kelly, Shay Waterworth, Wilf Hewson
