The eight teams contesting cricket’s Karran Cup Weekend League play their first games this Saturday.

Two of the matches are a re-run of the Tinker Cup games played on May 5.

Valkyres visit Newfield Castletown this time around and will hope to gain back-to-back victories over the southern side.

Town will welcome the return of left-arm bowler Richard Jackson, whose bowling has caused Valkyres’ batsmen some problems in the past.

The southerners will, however, be without their other two left-arm bowlers, Garreth Roome and Tom Burrows.

Ramsey Crookall Finch Hill play Shimmin Wilson Peel and St John’s once again and I fear that the result may be the same.

However, George Burrows has worked hard for his scores around the 30 mark and he is due a big total.

Baker Tilly Isle of Man Cronkbourne’s first game at the weekend since winning last year’s delayed Tinker Cup in the middle of April sees the team visit Ramsey.

I expect that the Cronkbourne’s side will be of a different make up now that the football and rugby seasons are ending. The powerful hitting of Nathan Knights and others may give Ramsey one or two problems.

Will Wood and Will Ward of Ramsey are both in good form and may give Cronkbourne something to think about.

Finally, Hannan Law Crosby meet the Development side.

I imagine that Crosby will hope to play some of their youngsters again after they played so well in the Blincoe Cup.

The cricket association’s Development XI utilises those young players who have trained throughout the winter to get some proper match practice against older, more experienced opponents.

There is a core of older players whose main job is to mentor the youngsters and provide a backbone to the side.

If a player plays well, it is hoped that he will then get game time in the clubs from which they are chosen.

ANDY COULSON