Douglas Rugby Club will host visiting side, Birkenhead Park, this weekend (February 17) at Port-e-Chee with a 1.30pm kick off.
Douglas v Birkenhead Park used to be a rare occurrence where Cheshire Cup draws occasionally threw minnows in to the mix against more senior clubs.
Port-e-Chee was crammed in January 1984 when Douglas hosted Park in a Cheshire Cup quarter-final, and with 10 minutes left on the clock Douglas were hammering away for the winner at 13-16.
A heart breaking late drop goal put paid to any further Douglas Cheshire Cup ambition that year, but there’s been a lot of water under Quarterbridge since, and league rugby has the two old clubs ensconced in Regional Two North West since the 2018-19 season.
Birkenhead Park
League-leaders Park may be unbeaten at home, where Douglas were closer in November than most, and average 37 points to boot, but away from Upper Park they came unstuck at Whitchurch and Bowdon.
At Port-e-Chee Douglas hold the lead 2-1 in head to heads, and Saturday’s challenge will certainly test young resolve.
Angus Wheeler, Harry Hewson and Oli Corkish return to the squad, with a question mark over winger Guy Barrons’ recovery.
Up front with Jack Loughnane straining at the leash, Simon Hoddinott in racing trim and the durable Robert Todd in the frame, skipper Blake Snell has a formidable pack around him.
If Port-e-Chee touchlines are full again, the not-so-minnowed hosts have every incentive.
By Tony Wilson-Spratt
Squad – Simon Hoddinott, Jack Loughane, Robert Todd, Conor Garland, Liam Kirkpatrick, Wilf Kermode, Angus Wheeler, Blake Snell (c), James Good, Kyle Martin, Luke Hyland, Harry Hewson, Sam McCord, Shay Waterworth, Owen Carvin, Sean Garland, Oli Corkish, Ralph Clark, Craig McGee
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