Vagabonds were pushed all the way for their 24-28 bonus point away win away at South Lancs/Cheshire Division Two newcomers Port Sunlight on Saturday.
It was an open but bruising opening game of the season that went right to the wire.
The Manx team were caught cold in the first 30 minutes by the physicality and the mobility of the Merseysiders; rapid centre Dave Tarr and flankers Tom Blackburn and Chris Ramsden with number eight Alan Bedson all causing havoc.
Number 10 Lewis Ramsden put the home side ahead with a penalty, and the early pressure also left space for winger Andrew Jenks to score, which Ramsden converted. Vagabonds responded quickly with a line out drive that delivered tighthead Kev Birchall to the try line. Number 12 Mark McGreal added the extras.
The hosts were soon back on the front foot with a move finished off by flanker Ramsden, and there was disruption when a late hit ended Vagas fullback Sam Brennan’s afternoon, though from there the visitors stepped up; a sure pushover try from the scrum went begging, though wrong was righted with another line out drive try from lock Greg Whyte, McGreal converting to put Vagas back in touch 17-14.
In the second half, big shifts from Whyte and flanker Ross Pulman helped scrum half Lucas Veradi get clean ball to a dangerous backline; stand off Aidan O’Shea, centres McGreal and Liver and winger turned full back Tom Gascoyne all making breaks.
Veradi helped himself to a darting try and winger-in-a-hooker’s-body James Clarke finished off a slick move for the try bonus point. McGreal converted both to put Vagas in control at 17-28, though Tarr crashed over to close the gap and leave it anyone’s game into the last 15 minutes.
Birchall and his opposite number were shown yellow after too many scrum re-sets, and in the closing stages it was a case of Vagas defending hard until the welcome sound of the final whistle signalled a winning start to the season.