Regional 2 North West
Saturday 22nd November 2025
Waterloo host Douglas on Saturday, and to say there’s been a turnaround in recent fortunes would be an understatement. Last season the Blundellsands side were pressing for promotion and only came undone at champions elect Bowdon in March and Douglas in April at Port-e-Chee. Their visit to the Isle of Man on the final league week-end saw Douglas reverse the September loss in some style, and Douglas have kicked on this season to win six from seven with a game in hand on leaders Sandbach. Waterloo meanwhile have won once against Altrincham Kersal in October and languish at the foot of the table, but don’t be too misled by that. This may be 12th versus 2nd , but they lost by a single score to Widnes and only by one point to West Park, and being at home and ahead 14-9 in the head to heads against Douglas will keep wind in their sails.
Matty Wood may return to outside-half and shuffle Josh Duncan in to midfield to resume his partnership with recent cap centurion Harry Hewson. Will Cain, Shay Waterworth and Cal Dentith are waiting in the wings should opportunity arrive, but starting selection up front will be a little trickier for coach Phil Cringle. With at least five candidates for three back-row positions, Liam Kirkpatrick is the lynchpin at number 8. Any combination from Blake Everson, Ian Larson, John Dutnall and Harry Cartwright will constitute a formidable unit, and similarly with front-row options where perhaps Josh Campbell is the only nailed-on starter from the trio. Currently there’s the luxury of Conor Garland, Owen Carvin and Simon Hoddinott as front-row solidity, and a bench appearance from any of those three is a major plus. The only question mark hovers over Hoddinott’s ankle which a late fitness test will answer.
A miserly Douglas defence tops the stats table, and having kept Vale of Lune at bay to the tune of one try on November 8th, there’s no sign of slackening. Bryn Snellgrove highlighted the match at Birkenhead Park as being key to progress, and this one too will measure Douglas ambition. Next up will be Widnes at home on 29th November and West Park away before welcoming current leaders Sandbach to Port-e-Chee in the first of the reverse fixtures – in September, Douglas lead at Sandbach 17-20 with 20 minutes to go . .
Douglas squad from - Josh Campbell, Owen Carvin, Simon Hoddinott, Ethan Kermode, Blake Snell (cap), Harry Cartwright, Liam Kirkpatrick, Blake Everson, Nathan Robson, Matty Wood, Josh Duncan, Harry Hewson, Kyle Martin, Craig Martin, Oli Corkish, Conor Garland, Ian Larson, John Dutnall, Jack Wallis
