There’s a break for most of the top teams this week, built into the fixture list in the expectation that most would be playing away in English competitions this weekend.

In the event all got a bye through the first round.

After the opening few weeks of mixed league action attention turns to a controversially reformatted Bridgewaters Plate tournament, extended to all but the top four this year (who play a shortened cup) to alleviate fixtures pressure on teams travelling away.

Some clubs have been unhappy with the changes to the format of the two tournaments, noting that they have been denied the opportunity they’d expected to participate in the cup.

Manx Hhockey Association has promised to review the situation before commencement of the men’s and women’s leagues in January.

Favourites for the silverware are likely to be those highest in the leagues - Ramsey, Bacchas B, and Celts - all of whom should make relatively easy work of lower league opposition in this week’s first round.

There’s more even fixtures are elsewhere though - Harlequins Colts will relish the opportunity to chance their luck against higher league opposition in the form of Bacchas C.

While the team in white are likely to come out on top, expect a close game.

Vikings B and Saracens Sabres should be close, although memories of a significant Vikings win with the same teams in the league three weeks ago will be fresh in both teams’ minds. Saracens’ response will be interesting.

Vikings D is the club’s colts team and will expect a win against Harlequins B, while both Cammags and Valkyrs B face teams at the base of lower divisions and will be likely to score multiple goals.

Elsewhere, the under-16s league continues.

Valkyrs will look to keep their 100 per cent record going against a struggling Ramsey team.

Vikings and Harlequins will be close. Quins are playing a younger team who may struggle against increasingly experienced Vikings players.

Saracens will likely prove victorious against Bacchas but, again, there won’t be much in it.

SATURDAY’S FIXTURES:

Bridgewaters Plate

11.05am Cherry Godfrey Castletown Southerners v Valkyrs B at CRHS

12.35pm Athena Healthcare Harlequins B

v Canaccord Genuity Vikings D at NSC

12.35pm Valkyrs C v LJ Ramsey A at QEII

2.05pm Cherry Godfrey Castletown Celts

v LJ Ramsey Ravens or Saracens Colts*at QEII

* Previous round result unknown at time of writing (played Wednesday evening)

2.05pm Ramsey Crookall Bacchas C

v Athena Healthcare Harlequins Colts at NSC

2.05pm Saracens Sabres

v Canaccord Genuity Vikings B at CRHS

3.35pm Cherry Godfrey Castletown Cammags

v Valkyrs D at CRHS

3.35pm Ramsey Crookall Bacchas Colts

v Ramsey Crookall Bacchas B at NSC

PwC Mixed Division Three

3.35pm Saracens Colts

v Ramsey Crookall Bacchas D at QEII

PwC Mixed Under-16s’ League

11.05am Swales Flooring Harlequins

v Canaccord Genuity Vikings at NSC

12.35pm Ramsey Crookall Bacchas

v Saracens at CRHS

12.35pm LJ Ramsey Rogues & Rascals v Valkyrs at RGS