2E2 DOUGLAS continued their superb start to the season with a bonus point win over Southport in South Lancashire and Cheshire Division Two on Saturday.
After two great derby wins in consecutive weeks there was an air of complacency around Port-e-Chee during the run-up to the latest game.
But when the match started, Douglas proved that as good as past results are, they don’t count for the here and now.
Southport were a very physical side and Douglas had to work hard for every point.
Without skipper Scott Goodall it was Bryn Snellgrove stepping into the breach. And he led by example, scoring and converting the first try on 10 minutes.
Douglas continued to hold possession but Southport didn’t yield. Eventually the Douglas rolling maul came to the fore with the prolific assist machine that is Daryn Thompson grabbing a penalty try assist.
The half finished 14-0 to Douglas.
The second half started slowly with Southport enjoying possession and working Douglas.
The hosts were resolute and a few powerful scrums later they were in Southport territory, where quick ball spread wide to Glyn Hooson-Owen to charge over the line.
Southport scored a well-worked try of their own soon after and were showing that they certainly hadn’t come to the island to make up the numbers, pushing Douglas hard.
But in the final 15 minutes Snellgrove broke the line twice, turning on the after-burners to secure the bonus point win and his own personal hat-trick.
Douglas showed a measure of control against a well-drilled and physical Southport side who will prove good opposition to all teams in the league this season. Ultimately, Douglas were forced to break down the visitors and it wasn’t easy.
Credit indeed goes to Southport for playing the full 80 minutes and battling to the end, always troubling Douglas and never letting them settle.
Douglas will be satisfied with a bonus point win and the unknown quantity that is Buxton are next up at Port-e-Chee when hopefully the great start will keep going.