The big match in the cricket Premiership this weekend should be Baker Tilly Isle of Man Cronkbourne v Hannan Law Crosby at Tromode.
Both teams have made a sketchy start to their Premiership campaigns this year and a win for either side on Saturday will boost their confidence.
Cronkbourne haven’t yet been able to put together a side to match their strong team of 2018 and Crosby have won only one of their three games so far.
One could say that Crosby were fortunate to beat the Development XI on Sunday, but a win is a win as they say.
They should have been able to score more than 115 against the young bowlers but the Crosby old hands of Dave Picken and Gareth Rowlands pulled them out of a tricky spot.
Cronkbourne have started to win matches after their early-season loss to the Development XI.
They managed a good win against Peel and St John’s and their bowlers remain a potent force.
The addition of Theo Helfrich has added another young bowler to the team.
Cronkbourne should win this one unless Crosby manage to get over the mental block that they seem to suffer from when playing the ’top’ clubs.
They have the talent in the side, they just need to get it sorted.
CTH Insurance Ramsey welcome Shimmin Wilson Peel and St John’s (PSJ) to their Grammar School home on Saturday.
I think that the northerners may struggle in this game as PSJ had been playing well in the weeks before TT.
It depends what kind of side PSJ can put together, but Ollie Webster usually manages to find some useful batsmen on his speed dial no matter what.
Ramsey’s bowlers will need to get into the PSJ’s top order early on to have any chance but that could be said of any team facing PSJ.
Valkyres welcome Ramsey Crookall Finch Hill to Mullen-e -Cloie on Saturday.
Valkyres had a decent win against Newfield Castletown last weekend and they stand close to the top of the Premiership table.
They bowled well against Town and even took some catches. Well, Wasim Khan did at least.
Finch Hill have only been able to play two weekend games so far.
They had an impressive win against Castletown, when Eddie Beard scored 165 not out.
Their top-order batsmen can be very dangerous when they get their act together.
It will be good to welcome Tom Burrows back to Manx cricket.
He was seriously ill earlier in the year, but he returned in good form against Castletown on Monday when he scored 37 not out.
Finally, Sunday sees Newfield Castletown take on the Callin Wild Development XI at King William’s College.
Town’s Tom Kennaugh has been in good form with the bat scoring 238 runs so far this season.
Recent signing Jaco Jansen can also score a few runs with the bat, while his son, Dollin took four wickets for the Development XI so he could cause a few problems.
The latter side have faltered somewhat in their past two games.
They managed a win despite a poor 20-over spell in the field against Ramsey, but last weekend their batsmen failed to capitalise on some excellent work by the bowlers and fielders against Crosby.
Chasing a target of 115, they were out all out for 90. However, I am sure they will learn from the loss.
This could be a good game as Castletown will also be keen to post a win after losing to Valkyres last weekend.
Premiership Fixtures:
Saturday, June 15
1pmCronkbourne v Crosby at Tromode
1pmRamsey v Peel and St John’s
at Grammar School
1pmValkyres v Finch Hill at Mullen-e-Cloie
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Sunday, June 16
1pmCastletown v Development XI
at King William’s College