League leaders for most of the season, West Park host Douglas in the knowledge that the one-point win at Port-e-Chee in November was only settled in the last move of the match. But for five points deducted from Douglas by the league organiser’s, and several points gone awol from last minute reversals, 5th would be a fairer representation rather than the current 8th.
Plenty of good news came from the last league fixture, if not sounding too much like England management given the 6-21 loss, that included the return of Niall Killey and Glyn Hooson-Owen. Both will need a little time to work up to an effective 80 minutes, but their appetite for the contest was clear to see. Although both were substituted late on, as match fitness returns their contributions will be a major plus. With Chris Beaumont and Shaun and Lance Wylie unavailable, recent recruit Will Archer and the exceptional form of Paul Leivers balance the forecast books. If Dion Spice continues in the commanding vein of form at scrum half that suggests he’ll be a Player of the Season candidate, and the front five with Hooson-Owen boss the tight exchanges, West Park might not have things all their own way.
