Douglas Rugby Club have reached the Regional 2 North West play-offs despite defeat away at North Ribblesdale.
Other league results had to go their way after Douglas came away empty handed and it was an anxious 45 minutes post-match.
North Ribblesdale had already achieved a hat-trick of consecutive promotions and with the Regional Two North West league trophy being presented by ex-England international Dan Scarborough, the home side wanted to avenge the opening day loss when the teams met at Port-e-Chee in September.
Early signs were positive for Douglas as they provided structure and shape to their play, but couldn’t break through a formidable North Rib defensive line.
Opening Score
The opening score was a 38-metre Douglas penalty from the boot of Nathan Robson, a deserved lead on fifteen minutes as the Douglas pack held sway in the scrum.
Then North Rib showed their champions credentials and took a lead they were never to relinquish. They claimed the restart, and after testing the Douglas defensive shape for several phases, the sheer speed of recycling created the opening try.
North Rib fly-half Tom Davidson was dictating play and his cross-field kick passes were stretching Douglas from one side of the pitch to the other. Douglas too used the same tactic to great effect, and Josh Duncan’s long cross-field punt to Harry Cartwright, who tapped down to Kyle Martin for what would have been a sensational score, was ruled out for offside.
North Rib scored a second from a quickly taken 23rd minute penalty, and a third after Liam Kirkpatrick danced through from number 8, only for North Rib to intercept quickly recycled Douglas possession and run in from 50 metres.
When North Rib overthrew a lineout, only to recover and surge through midfield for centre Jonathon Richards to score, the 24-3 half-time scoreboard looked bleaker than the contest truly was.
Injury For Douglas
Douglas lost Duncan to a shoulder injury, replaced by Shay Waterworth in a re-jigged backline, with Nathan Robson going to fly-half. Kyle Martin took over at scrum-half, and Ollie Corkish on for winger Zak Wickman, but the change of personnel did nothing to help Douglas who were easy to pick off in attack as changed combinations struggled to gel.
North Rib momentum built, and having emptied their bench added a 48th minute try, orchestrated again by the impressive Davidson for 31-3. Josh Campbell lifted Douglas with a powerful run against the tide, but two North Rib scores sealed the result and the last play of the game was a celebratory team try under the posts for 50-3.
All Douglas eyes and ears were now on incoming results and first news was dire. Widnes beat Birkenhead Park to replace Douglas in fourth. Better news when Burnage in sixth, needing two points to overhaul Douglas, were beaten at Sandbach and Douglas could quietly celebrate on several scores.
Over nine seasons of highly competitive rugby at level 6, Douglas have posted the highest position in the national leagues achieved by a Manx side.
After leading the standings in December, undefeated in two months and chalking up seven consecutive wins, they can approach the play-off at Vale of Lune next Saturday with heads high.
Douglas squad – C Garland, J Campbell, S Hoddinott, H Cartwright, E Kermode, J Dutnall, B Everson, L Kirkpatrick (c), N Robson, J Duncan, K Martin, C Martin, H Hewson, Z Wickman, S Higgins, R Clarke, S Waterworth, O Corkish