Sat 10 Oct 2026, 14:15
Grunt up front
Ramsey moved into top spot in the Hartford Homes Manx Shield with a 39-21 victory at the Mooragh Park.
The first twenty minutes were largely forgettable with neither team really getting grips with the game, although the Ramset set piece scrummage was looking increasingly ominous. In the twenty second minute however, the deadlock was broken. Ramsey earned an attacking scrum on the Nomads twenty two. The front five gave a little nudge and skipper Josh Corteen launched from the base. His angled run was halted just shy of the line but a chicken wing pass out of the tackle found Matt Meechan in support and he dotted down for the opening score. Before the dust had settled, Ramsey doubled their lead. Jake Richmond made the initial incision through the defence before the forwards took over an prop Adam Dunlop finished off with a trademark flop over the line for a 10-0 lead.
Nomads continued to resist and while Ramsey were ahead on the board, it was tough going on the pitch and the visitors’ defence held out almost till half time. With play deep in Nomad territory Ramsey switched to a pick and drive offence and after a number of short gains hooker Ben Hardman got the ball over the whitewash to leave his side 15-0 ahead at the break.
Early in the second half Ramsey earned a five metre attacking scrum. Then big diesels roared into life and Nomads were shunted back over their own line with Ramsey captain Corteen getting the try to secure a try bonus point. Six minutes later they got another shot. As the scrum started to move though, the ball spat out the side. Ryan Wren acted quickest and he snaffled the loose ball and dived in to score. Tom Moffatt added the conversion and Ramsey were sitting pretty with a 27-0 lead.
Nomads were far from finished though. Just before the hour, their skipper Richard Seed opted to run from his own try line with turnover ball. He made almost thirty metres before he was felled. There were support runners around him and Nathan Page carried the move on to within touching distance of the Ramsey line. He was just caught by a Meechan cover tackle but wing Stan Cubbon was on hand to finish. Cubbon converted his own try to make it 27-7.
A Brayden Roche break down the left wing gave Ramsey excellent field position and quick ball. This was shipped infield where Jacob Corteen acted as the linkman and Tom Moffatt went in clear under the posts. He converted his own try to settle the Ramsey faithful who had feared a comeback, but a 34-7 lead with fifteen to play seemed safe.
With just over ten to play Josh Linwood went in for Nomads’ second and when Cubbon converted it was 34-14. Will Millsopp restored the balance for Ramsey with a well finished score eight from the end and made the game safe. There was however still time for Nomads and when Nathan Page picked off a loose Ramsey pass he had a clean run in to score, with Cubbon converting to give himself a flawless kicking record.
The first twenty minutes were largely forgettable with neither team really getting grips with the game, although the Ramset set piece scrummage was looking increasingly ominous. In the twenty second minute however, the deadlock was broken. Ramsey earned an attacking scrum on the Nomads twenty two. The front five gave a little nudge and skipper Josh Corteen launched from the base. His angled run was halted just shy of the line but a chicken wing pass out of the tackle found Matt Meechan in support and he dotted down for the opening score. Before the dust had settled, Ramsey doubled their lead. Jake Richmond made the initial incision through the defence before the forwards took over an prop Adam Dunlop finished off with a trademark flop over the line for a 10-0 lead.
Nomads continued to resist and while Ramsey were ahead on the board, it was tough going on the pitch and the visitors’ defence held out almost till half time. With play deep in Nomad territory Ramsey switched to a pick and drive offence and after a number of short gains hooker Ben Hardman got the ball over the whitewash to leave his side 15-0 ahead at the break.
Early in the second half Ramsey earned a five metre attacking scrum. Then big diesels roared into life and Nomads were shunted back over their own line with Ramsey captain Corteen getting the try to secure a try bonus point. Six minutes later they got another shot. As the scrum started to move though, the ball spat out the side. Ryan Wren acted quickest and he snaffled the loose ball and dived in to score. Tom Moffatt added the conversion and Ramsey were sitting pretty with a 27-0 lead.
Nomads were far from finished though. Just before the hour, their skipper Richard Seed opted to run from his own try line with turnover ball. He made almost thirty metres before he was felled. There were support runners around him and Nathan Page carried the move on to within touching distance of the Ramsey line. He was just caught by a Meechan cover tackle but wing Stan Cubbon was on hand to finish. Cubbon converted his own try to make it 27-7.
A Brayden Roche break down the left wing gave Ramsey excellent field position and quick ball. This was shipped infield where Jacob Corteen acted as the linkman and Tom Moffatt went in clear under the posts. He converted his own try to settle the Ramsey faithful who had feared a comeback, but a 34-7 lead with fifteen to play seemed safe.
With just over ten to play Josh Linwood went in for Nomads’ second and when Cubbon converted it was 34-14. Will Millsopp restored the balance for Ramsey with a well finished score eight from the end and made the game safe. There was however still time for Nomads and when Nathan Page picked off a loose Ramsey pass he had a clean run in to score, with Cubbon converting to give himself a flawless kicking record.
