DOUGLAS bounced back from a disappointing defeat against Oswestry to get their promotion challenge back on track with a crushing win over bottom side Buxton in South Lancashire and Cheshire Division Two on Saturday.
Callum Carine, Nick Horsthuis and Glyn Hooson-Owen all crossed for first half tries, while a penalty and conversion from Scott Goodall gave Douglas a 0-20 half-time lead.
The home side had a player red carded in the opening period for punching Craig McGee.
Douglas pulled away in the second half when Bryn Snellgrove added two tries, Carine picked up his second and McGee bagged one too, with skipper Goodall adding three conversions and Snellgrove one.
It was a good performance from a Douglas side missing a few regulars through injury and unavailability. Even the coach, Tom Waterworth, occupied a place on the subs bench.
Santa came early for Douglas too, with news that league leaders Sefton lost 19-3 away at Dukinfield. Douglas are now only six points off the top spot and 10 points clear of third.
The league now goes into the festive recess, with the next games on January 5: Douglas v Moore; Southport v Ramsey and Vagabonds v Buxton.
League Table
P W D L Diff. Pts
Sefton 14 13 0 1 373 63
Douglas 14 12 0 2 287 57
Dukinfield 14 9 1 4 130 47
Liverpool C’giate 14 9 0 5 384 45
Ormskirk 12 8 0 4 144 40
Vagabonds 14 7 1 6 19 40
Oswestry 14 7 1 6 26 34
Moore 13 5 0 8 -135 25
Oldershaw 14 5 0 9 -136 25
Southport 14 4 1 9 -65 24
Ramsey 14 6 0 8 -239 22
Marple 14 4 1 9 -193 22
Wallasey 12 2 1 9 -135 14
Buxton 13 1 0 12 -244 8