Vagabonds ended 2008 in South Lancashire and Cheshire Division 1 with another away defeat.

This time they went down 16-15 away at bottom club Dukinfield despite early tries from Jay Kruger and Simon Heggs.

When Heggs was sent off in the first half however the Manx side were always going to be up against it.

Rob Martin's late try looked to have sealed the game for Vagas but Dukinfield won a penalty with the last kick of the game to snatch the points.

Meanwhile at Ashton-on-Mersey, Douglas produced an exciting 10-9 win.

Ashton took an early 6-0 lead with two penalties before Douglas finally got going.

Bryn Snellgrove kicked them back into the game with a penalty before Ryan Maddox crossed for a try which Snellgrove converted for a 10-6 half-time lead.

Ashton pulled back a penalty in the second half to leave it balanced at 10-9 but Douglas put the shutters up for the last ten minutes and kept them at bay.

In the North of the Island, Ramsey stole a march on promotion rivals West Park Warriors with a narrow 15-13 win at Mooragh Park.

Fintan Cummins put Ramsey in front with a penalty early on but his effort was cancelled out by Warriors' Jerry Dowling.

Dowling then put Warriors in front with another penalty to leave the game finely balanced at half time.

Ramsey took charge in the second half and dominated possession and territory.

The pressure soon paid off and three penalties from Fintan Cummins gave them a 12-6 lead with 10 minutes to play.

Warriors then hit back through skipper Mark Nolan who intercepted for a try and when Jerry Dowling converted, the visitors were 13-12 in front.

With just minutes left on the clock, Fintan Cummins struck a penalty for Ramsey to seal the win and pull level with Warriors in the league table, with a game in hand.

And the Southern Nomads now have one hand on the Shimmin Wilson Manx Shield after completing the double over their nearest rivals Ramsey B with a 25-5 win at King Williams College.

Elsewhere in the Shield, Douglas B consolidated their mid-table position with a 41-0 victory over Emerging Nomads.

John Bateson, Ray Sharpe and Paul Gale all bagged a brace for Douglas with their other try coming from John Ledwidge.

Results

South Lancashire/Cheshire Division 1

Dukinfield 16-15 Vagabonds

South Lancashire/Cheshire Division 2

Ashton on Mersey 9-10 Douglas

South Lancashire/Cheshire Division 4

Ramsey 15-13 West Park Warriors

RFUW North West 2

Vagabonds 36-10 Manchester

Shimmin Wilson Manx Shield

Southern Nomads 35-5 Ramsey B

Castletown p-p Vagabonds B

Douglas B 41-0 Emerging Nomads

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