Island Games

Manchester failed to deal effectively with the kick off, or the restart from the ensuing penalty, so that Douglas were six points to the good from the opening exchanges as they went for the posts both times.

It looked as if Manchester would at least be at a numerical advantage when Antony TiaTia was brought down with a high tackle soon after, but the referee decided that a penalty was strong enough action. This led to a good passage of play from Manchester, with much possession as they slowly advanced. An enterprising Crossfield kick by Richard McCartney so nearly found Luke Tyrrell with a run in ahead of him. The territory was held with a series of scrums around the Douglas 22 but a solid defence frustrated and Douglas moved out of immediate danger.

The breakthrough ironically came from the home side against the run of play when they ran a try in with relatively light pressure so that the first quarter gave a 13-0 lead but with Manchester still snapping for a score of their own. These efforts were hampered with injuries to Conor Booth and Tom Power who both had to leave the field for attention. Douglas took the pragmatic option when awarded a kickable penalty during this stop-start period to click the scoreboard on to 16-0 on the half hour mark.

Manchester looked weary at this point and, with their tails up, Douglas sensed their opportunity. A great try from their own half was conjured up as the home backs combined and supported each other with well time runs and passes to splinter the Manchester defence. That 23-0 lead was taken into half time despite Manchester finishing the half strongly, Matt Davies being forced into touch so close to the line that he took the flag with him!

Manchester were still willing to take the game to Douglas with James Brodie clearly on a mission. The effort was certainly there in attack but the defence was found wanting when an early try was run in to open a hopeless 30-0 lead; the bonus point following on 10 minutes when a drive to the line got close enough for Douglas to peel away from the back and touch down. An excellent touchline conversion made it 37-0.

Manchester had their opportunities to kick some consolation points but kept pushing for their try. Unfortunately, any territory gained from McCartney’s penalty kicks to touch was disappointingly given up on too many occasions with a misfiring lineout. Douglas were now hitting the tackles very hard (and with what must have been incredible line speed as was pointed out to the officials!). Manchester bravely resisted however, but when they gained a turnover from their tactics, the visitors were wrongfooted so that after an hour, a run in made it 44-0 with the conversion.

With maximum match points in the bag, Douglas now set up their stall to nil Manchester who tried everything to break through - from Brodie punching holes, to a kick-and-chase to the line by Davies which went just too long. With Manchester in attack mode, Douglas benefited when they were able to break out of defence with the opposition busy elsewhere, to make it 51-0.

Douglas had their final say with ten minutes to go when they stretched Manchester too thinly across the pitch as they moved the ball slickly along the backs to score in the corner (56-0).

Manchester didn’t want to leave the island try-less and rejected more opportunities for easy penalty points as Douglas were repeatedly penalised in defence. Eventually the tap-and-goes got Manchester near the line for a forwards’ try by Paul Farrington right in the corner. A fine conversion by McCartney made it 56-7 with normal time played.

Again Manchester came at Douglas so that at least the last word was had, as Davies was able to squeeze over in the corner at the end of this half, closing the score at 56-12. The win lifted Douglas to the top of the league but Manchester will be looking forward to playing the return fixture in different circumstances in December.