Bowdon Beat Douglas

Douglas Rugby Club were beaten on home turf by visitors Bowdon at the weekend, with a final score of 15 – 28.

The local club took a three-point lead in to the third quarter of a riveting Regional Two North West match against Bowdon at Port-e-Chee.

But despite an element of scrum and line-out domination, couldn’t bank any league points against the title protagonists.

Bowdon’s Eye

A won two, lost two record at Port-e-Chee in the last four years would ensure Bowdon’s eye wouldn’t be distracted by the title race.

And when Nathan Robson thumped over a 43-metre penalty kick with just three minutes on the clock, the first scrum revealed a definite Douglas advantage.

That edge didn’t materialise in to territory however and Douglas mostly spent the next 30 minutes pinned back in defence where Simcocks Man of the Match flanker Blake Everson was omnipresent.

Bowdon Points

Only in the 36th minute were Bowdon able to register points, a testament to the thoroughness of Douglas resistance rather than the paucity of Bowdon’s attack.

Terrance Longworth’s conversion for 3-7 saw in the half-time break, and Kyle Martin set Port-e-Chee alight six minutes into the second period with a blistering run to the Bowdon try line.

Robson converted for 10-7, and Douglas took a semblance of control for the next five minutes by picking off Bowdon line-outs and driving through the forwards.

Scoring Chances

Two Douglas scoring chances came and went, instigated by full-back Jonty Cope and carried on by winger Cal Dentith, but as Douglas attacked closer to the scrum, a dropped ball gave Bowdon a 61st-minute opportunity in the Douglas backyard.

Bowdon flanker Cameron Lack hammered on and number 8 Liam Connolly surged under the posts for Terence Longworth to convert and 10-14.

Owen Carvin subbed Ralph Clarke and Conor Garland stepped in to second-row to maintain the pressure up front, the line-out continuing to be a rich source of possession as Liam Kirkpatrick and company filched the extra’s, but Bowdon escaped again in the 69th minute as Nathan Ovien barrelled through.

Bowdon Win

Having learnt first-half lessons via Cope’s blistering counter attacks, Bowdon surrendered less territory with the boot and put the onus on Douglas to make space for their creative backs.

But when a promising Douglas move broke down, Bowdon full-back Ciaran Connolly crossed the line, Longworth converted, and it seemed a long way back at 10-28 with four minutes left even for a losing bonus-point.

Douglas made a decent fist of it, sending hooker Gihard Visagie diving over in the corner, but the missed scoring chances earlier were the deciders.