Sat 20 Apr 2024, 14:15
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Douglas had already qualified for next week’s Manx Cup Final but underlined their strength with a 55-24 win at the Mooragh Park. A last minute try from Rory Nicholson secured Ramsey a bonus point which means that they also qualify and the two will face off again in seven days.
Douglas drew first blood just ten minutes in. A five metre penalty was kicked to touch and Blake Snell secured the line out and set up the driving maul. Ramsey just about stopped the drive but they couldn’t stop hooker Jack Loughnane peeling off the back and diving in. Just after the restart Douglas were in again. Kyle Martin’s solo run got him over the Ramsey line. In the process however he took a high tackle from Brandon Atchison and referee Rob Martin awarded a penalty try and sent Atchison to the sin bin for ten minutes.
With a 12-0 lead and an extra man Douglas looked set to race away. Ramsey had other ideas though and attacked with ball in hand. A Danny Howard break took them into the Douglas twenty two and they pounded the line. Sam Corlett went very close before prop Rory Nicholson finally forced his way over. Nathan Robson converted to leave Douglas just five in front with twenty minutes gone.
Douglas then took charge of the remainder of the first half. The back line ate up ground down the right flank and Owen Carvin popped up in midfield to drive for the Ramsey line. He was stopped short but fellow prop Ralph Clarke was unmarked on the left and lurking with intent. The ruck ball was moved his way and he dotted down unmolested. Luke Hyland converted for a 19-7 lead.
As half time approached Douglas struck twice in quick succession. Oli Corkish raced down the touchline for the first of these and from the restart Kyle Martin broke clear and ran in from forty metres. Luke Hyland added a conversion and Douglas were comfortably ahead 31-7 at the break.
When second half got underway it started in the worst possible way for Ramsey. They were already facing a mountain to climb and just thirty nine seconds after the kick off Sam McCord slipped through some indifferent tackling to score wide on the left. Luca Simmons added the conversion. Three minute later it was McCord again. Ramsey attacked but a dropped ball in midfield allowed Douglas to counter and the pacy full back was too quick for the scramble defence. The 31-7 half time lead was suddenly 43-7.
Ten minutes into the half Ramsey hit back. A period of pressure inside Douglas territory saw hooked Ben Hardman go close. Keiran Kneale rescued the ball and squeezed off a pass to Brandon Atchison who finished off. The comeback was however stopped as soon as it started. Sam McCord galloped in down the right wing to complete his hat trick and Simmons’ conversion brough up the half century and a 50-12 lead.
While the game was gone, Ramsey kept plugging away to try and claim a bonus point. Just before the seventy minute mark they were rewarded. Mike Broderick made the line break to get things going and fellow second row Josh Corteen popped up on the left touchline to finish it off. Robson added the conversion. Replacement Carl Markl-Ferns went over at the other end for Douglas to cancel out the Ramsey score but the home side had the final say in the final play when Rory Nicholson burrowed his way under a pile of bodies for his second of the day which also gave Ramsey the bonus point they needed.
Both sides have now had a good look at each other ahead of next week’s final. Douglas are unlikely to change much as everything worked for them. Ramsey will need to sharpen up their tackling and keep the ball well clear of Sam McCord if they fancy their chances for an unlikely Cup win.
Douglas drew first blood just ten minutes in. A five metre penalty was kicked to touch and Blake Snell secured the line out and set up the driving maul. Ramsey just about stopped the drive but they couldn’t stop hooker Jack Loughnane peeling off the back and diving in. Just after the restart Douglas were in again. Kyle Martin’s solo run got him over the Ramsey line. In the process however he took a high tackle from Brandon Atchison and referee Rob Martin awarded a penalty try and sent Atchison to the sin bin for ten minutes.
With a 12-0 lead and an extra man Douglas looked set to race away. Ramsey had other ideas though and attacked with ball in hand. A Danny Howard break took them into the Douglas twenty two and they pounded the line. Sam Corlett went very close before prop Rory Nicholson finally forced his way over. Nathan Robson converted to leave Douglas just five in front with twenty minutes gone.
Douglas then took charge of the remainder of the first half. The back line ate up ground down the right flank and Owen Carvin popped up in midfield to drive for the Ramsey line. He was stopped short but fellow prop Ralph Clarke was unmarked on the left and lurking with intent. The ruck ball was moved his way and he dotted down unmolested. Luke Hyland converted for a 19-7 lead.
As half time approached Douglas struck twice in quick succession. Oli Corkish raced down the touchline for the first of these and from the restart Kyle Martin broke clear and ran in from forty metres. Luke Hyland added a conversion and Douglas were comfortably ahead 31-7 at the break.
When second half got underway it started in the worst possible way for Ramsey. They were already facing a mountain to climb and just thirty nine seconds after the kick off Sam McCord slipped through some indifferent tackling to score wide on the left. Luca Simmons added the conversion. Three minute later it was McCord again. Ramsey attacked but a dropped ball in midfield allowed Douglas to counter and the pacy full back was too quick for the scramble defence. The 31-7 half time lead was suddenly 43-7.
Ten minutes into the half Ramsey hit back. A period of pressure inside Douglas territory saw hooked Ben Hardman go close. Keiran Kneale rescued the ball and squeezed off a pass to Brandon Atchison who finished off. The comeback was however stopped as soon as it started. Sam McCord galloped in down the right wing to complete his hat trick and Simmons’ conversion brough up the half century and a 50-12 lead.
While the game was gone, Ramsey kept plugging away to try and claim a bonus point. Just before the seventy minute mark they were rewarded. Mike Broderick made the line break to get things going and fellow second row Josh Corteen popped up on the left touchline to finish it off. Robson added the conversion. Replacement Carl Markl-Ferns went over at the other end for Douglas to cancel out the Ramsey score but the home side had the final say in the final play when Rory Nicholson burrowed his way under a pile of bodies for his second of the day which also gave Ramsey the bonus point they needed.
Both sides have now had a good look at each other ahead of next week’s final. Douglas are unlikely to change much as everything worked for them. Ramsey will need to sharpen up their tackling and keep the ball well clear of Sam McCord if they fancy their chances for an unlikely Cup win.
