There’s a slightly disjointed hockey fixture list this weekend as most teams commence their cup runs.

A number of fixtures have also been moved to accommodate the England Hockey draw.

Local attention turns to the Bridgewaters Cup and Plate, and the pick of the fixtures remaining are to be found in the women’s draw where Vikings and Valkyrs - which would be a potential final had the draw been different - face off at the NSC this Saturday.

While Vikings’ record-breaking cup run hardly needs covering again, Valkyrs are looking strong at the moment and continue to get even stronger.

Therefore it is the westerners who have more chance than anyone else of getting a result against Vikings and will welcome another opportunity to take them on.

A strong defence will work hard to hold the ever-dangerous Kim Carney outside of the circle to prevent her having the scoring opportunities that she is so good at converting.

At the other end of the pitch, Maxine Smalley seems to have found a rich seam of form of late and, while Vikings undoubtedly have the strongest defence in the league, opportunities to score will doubtless present themselves.

Also interesting will be the fixture between Bacchas Colts and Castletown A.

The former have yet to lose a game in the lower of the two divisions, whereas Castletown, while improving, have beaten only Harlequins in the league above.

While Bacchas elected to remain in the lower division this year, this fixture may go some way to proving how successful they may be in the higher league.

The Colts name is something of a misnomer as the squad contains many players who have spent many years in the Premier League and will feel no fear in meeting a Castletown A side.

Town will probably have the stronger side, having played a higher level of hockey all season, but it won’t be an easy win.

Bacchas A are likely to repeat last week’s sizeable victory over Harlequins A, while Vikings B are likely to prove no match against a balanced Ramsey side with strength across the pitch.

The Men’s Cup draw offers fewer points of interest as the main Bacchas versus Valkyrs fixture having been moved to accommodate Bacchas’ cup contest.

Vikings are odds on to ease past Harlequins from the division below, while Bacchas’ second team will prove no match for Ramsey.

In the lower plate competition, the men’s draw has four fixtures which, on the face of it, appear pretty one-sided, but the women’s draw again offers close fixtures.

Ramsey B will expect to overcome Saracens but may find their squad reduced by a need to keep stronger players for their A team, while Valkyrs C have struggled to find a team for the past few weeks and this is could give Castletown B an edge.

Hockey fixtures for

Saturday, March 17

Bridgewaters Manx Men’s Cup

3.35pm Athena Healthcare Harlequins A v Canaccord Genuity Vikings A @ NSC

2.05pmLJ Ramsey A v Ramsey Crookall Bacchas B @ RGS

Bridgewaters Manx Women’s Cup

12.35pm Cherry Godfrey Castletown A v Ramsey Crookall Bacchas Colts @ CRHS

12.35pm Ramsey Crookall Bacchas A v Athena Healthcare Harlequins A @ NSC

12.35pm LJ Ramsey A v Canaccord Genuity Vikings B @ RGS

2.05pm Valkyrs A v Vikings A @ QEII

Bridgewaters Manx Men’s Plate

11.05am Cherry Godfrey Castletown B v Valkyrs B @ CRHS

3.35pm Ramsey Crookall Bacchas C v Canaccord Genuity Vikings C @ QEII

2.05pm Saracens A s LJ Ramsey B @ CRHS

Bridgewaters Manx Women’s Plate

11.05am LJ Ramsey B v Saracens A @ QEII

2.05pm Valkyrs C v Cherry Godfrey Castletown B@ QEII

PwC Mixed Under-16s

11.05am Ramsey Crookall Bacchas v Valkyrs @ NSC

3.35pm Saracens v Canaccord Genuity Vikings @ CRHS

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Sunday , March 18

England Hockey Association Men’s Championship Tier 2

1pm Ramsey Crookall Bacchas A v Lindum @ NSC