Sat 20 Feb 2021, 14:15
In a fitting finale to the Manx Bowl, former Ramsey man Mark Oldfield ran in three tries against his old club, for Vagabonds Hornets as they claimed the Manx Bowl in the final game of the competition, beating Ramsey B 22-12 at a windy Ballafletcher.
The strong wind was gusting straight down the pitch and Ramsey Had it at their backs first. Despite this, it was Vagas who broke the deadlock. Tight forward play and strong running earned them an attacking five metre scrum. Ramsey got a nudge on but the Vagas set piece provided just enough stability for Mark Oldfield to launch himself from the base and dive over the line for the opening try.
Darragh Pilkington missed a penalty at the other end for Ramsey just after the ten-minute mark but chances for the Northerners were few and far between. The Vagabonds defence was efficient both at halting Ramsey’s progress and stealing the ball at the breakdown. As twenty minutes approached Vagas doubled their lead. Turnover ball gave them an opportunity to counter attack and prop Joe Louw thundered down the right wing and was halted just short of the Ramsey line. The ball was recycled quickly and second row Mitch Wells was on hand to pick and drive for the try and a 10-0 lead.
Knowing that they’d have to play into the wind in the second half Ramsey simply had to score before the break and on the half hour a chance finally emerged. Pace runners Brandon Atchison and Jake Richmond had seen little ball in the opening exchanges and both went upfield to chase a kick. Their efforts drew a penalty from the Vagas defence and after Jared May’s crash ball was stopped just short, scrum half Jonny Mason was on hand to dive in from the base of the ruck. Jake Richmond converted to leave Vagas 10-7 in front at the half time whistle.
In the second half Vagas’ Tom Rowley used the wind beautifully. His floated kicks kept Ramsey pinned in their own half and unable to kick. The defence initially held firm and won a defensive five metre scrum. Vagas however attacked the set piece and turned the ball over. Oldfield seized the loose ball and nipped over the line for his second which Rowley converted for a 17-7 lead.
Ramsey then had a turn of pressure in the Vagas twenty-two. Abuu Migoda and Brandon Atchison made the hard yards and after a string of penalties it was Jared May who got closest to the line, but crucially not over it. A breakdown penalty however gave Vagas possession and Rowley’s boot once again kicked them clear. To rub salt into the Ramsey wound Vagas scored again from the clearance. Steve Gawne was bundled into touch five metres from the Ramsey line but Vagas regained possession from the line out and Oldfield sneaked in for his hat trick and a 22-7 lead.
Ramsey grabbed a consolation try eight minutes from the end when Ben Hardman crashed over to finish off an Abuu Migoda break, but with the clock against them, they could make no further inroads into the Vagas lead.
On the bright side three Ramsey men were on the winning side. Mark Oldfield and Jack Caine who left us to go to Vagas and Dan Warburton who put in a 78 minute performance after Vagas lost a front row man after just 2 minutes. Credit to Warby for making the switch to help Vagas out and of course to go and join his trophy hunting friends!!
The strong wind was gusting straight down the pitch and Ramsey Had it at their backs first. Despite this, it was Vagas who broke the deadlock. Tight forward play and strong running earned them an attacking five metre scrum. Ramsey got a nudge on but the Vagas set piece provided just enough stability for Mark Oldfield to launch himself from the base and dive over the line for the opening try.
Darragh Pilkington missed a penalty at the other end for Ramsey just after the ten-minute mark but chances for the Northerners were few and far between. The Vagabonds defence was efficient both at halting Ramsey’s progress and stealing the ball at the breakdown. As twenty minutes approached Vagas doubled their lead. Turnover ball gave them an opportunity to counter attack and prop Joe Louw thundered down the right wing and was halted just short of the Ramsey line. The ball was recycled quickly and second row Mitch Wells was on hand to pick and drive for the try and a 10-0 lead.
Knowing that they’d have to play into the wind in the second half Ramsey simply had to score before the break and on the half hour a chance finally emerged. Pace runners Brandon Atchison and Jake Richmond had seen little ball in the opening exchanges and both went upfield to chase a kick. Their efforts drew a penalty from the Vagas defence and after Jared May’s crash ball was stopped just short, scrum half Jonny Mason was on hand to dive in from the base of the ruck. Jake Richmond converted to leave Vagas 10-7 in front at the half time whistle.
In the second half Vagas’ Tom Rowley used the wind beautifully. His floated kicks kept Ramsey pinned in their own half and unable to kick. The defence initially held firm and won a defensive five metre scrum. Vagas however attacked the set piece and turned the ball over. Oldfield seized the loose ball and nipped over the line for his second which Rowley converted for a 17-7 lead.
Ramsey then had a turn of pressure in the Vagas twenty-two. Abuu Migoda and Brandon Atchison made the hard yards and after a string of penalties it was Jared May who got closest to the line, but crucially not over it. A breakdown penalty however gave Vagas possession and Rowley’s boot once again kicked them clear. To rub salt into the Ramsey wound Vagas scored again from the clearance. Steve Gawne was bundled into touch five metres from the Ramsey line but Vagas regained possession from the line out and Oldfield sneaked in for his hat trick and a 22-7 lead.
Ramsey grabbed a consolation try eight minutes from the end when Ben Hardman crashed over to finish off an Abuu Migoda break, but with the clock against them, they could make no further inroads into the Vagas lead.
On the bright side three Ramsey men were on the winning side. Mark Oldfield and Jack Caine who left us to go to Vagas and Dan Warburton who put in a 78 minute performance after Vagas lost a front row man after just 2 minutes. Credit to Warby for making the switch to help Vagas out and of course to go and join his trophy hunting friends!!
