Ramsey Retain Shimmin Wilson Manx Shield

Ramsey clinched the Shimmin Wilson Manx Shield for the second year running, with a 36-0 win away at PDMS Southern Nomads. Nomads didn’t make life easy for the visitors though and some phenomenal second half defending prevented a Ramsey rout.

Still smarting from two knockout cup defeats this season, including one against Nomads in October, the Shield leaders were in a feisty mood from the off and opened the scoring after just three minutes. Skipper Tynan Pritchard hammered his way deep into the Nomads twenty two and when the ball was moved left, centre Matty Livesey was left with an easy canter in for a 5-0 lead. Shaun Wyllie converted and Ramsey were 7-0 up without really breaking a sweat.

There were no further easy tries however as the early score simply provided a wake up call for Nomads. Their forwards finally started winning some ball and stand off Andrew Dixon began to use the strong wind to pin Ramsey deep in their own territory. Matt Bovington-Down looked threatening down the Nomads right flank and Ross McCulloch was getting stuck in at the breakdowns. In spite of their efforts though, the scoreboard remained a Nomads-free area and in the twenty seventh minute, Ramsey finally extended their lead.

Danny Turner hit the Ramsey back line at pace and found a gap on the right wing. He was felled by a high tackle just a few yards short and Ramsey elected for the catch and drive line out. Will Keenan rose high to take the ball then hung on as the pack got behind him and shunted him over for the try and a 12-0 lead.  There was time for another Ramsey score before the interval and this again came from a penalty. Nomads were caught offside in front of their posts and with a large blind side to work with; the weapon of choice was the scrummage. Danny Turner sprinted forward to provide the extra man and as Nomads shuffled across to cover the overlap, Tynan Pritchard went from the base of the scrum and powered over for the try. Wyllie converted and with the score at 19-0, Ramsey were looking home and dry at half time.

With the strong wind at their backs, Ramsey enjoyed a big territorial advantage in the second half and only some pretty gritty defending stopped them running up a big score. Ally Kelly had an immense game for Nomads and left wing Chris Dentith also looked a useful acquisition, making several timely tackles.

It took Ramsey twenty five minutes to unlock the defence and the score finally came from second row Max Singer at the end of a concerted high tempo attack. As soon as the breach was made though the resistance crumbled and Ramsey were able to add to their tally in quick order. Nick McCudden broke down the left wing and he found replacement scrum half Gareth Hinge whose show and go put him over to make it 29-0  Timmy Healy converted for -0 before replacement flanker Johnny Dean plunged home from close range to round the day off at 36-0.

Ramsey skipper Tynan Pritchard accepted the trophy from sponsors Shimmin Wilson and MRFU Chairman Peter Saunders before paying tribute to the youngsters in his team. Louis Higgins, James McKenzie, Will Keenan, Nick McCudden, Danny Turner and Shaun Wyllie who he felt would be great assets for the club in future years.