The hockey season swings back into action this weekend after the half-term break, with an enticing second round of fixtures ahead.

Four of the six teams in the PwC Men’s Premier will still be looking at the top of the table.

Fixture of the day on Saturday will be Valkyrs A versus Ramsey.

The northerners started their impressive season with a win against Valkyrs and a repeat performance is more than likely to see them finish in the top three for the first time for many seasons.

Valkyrs, meanwhile, have been the only team to take a point from Bacchas this season and will hope to bring themselves back into title contention in the second half of the season.

Easier fixtures await Bacchas A and Vikings A, both of whom play the opposing sides’ second teams, who both struggle to keep the floodgates closed in defence. Heavy scorelines are likely to feature.

In the Women’s Premier, title contenders Vikings and Valkyrs have the week off, which draws attention to the bottom of the table, where a critical fixture between Castletown (two points) and Harlequins (zero points) awaits.

Town will go into this match as favourites, with Harlequins having had something of an uphill battle following the departure of key players to university.

Elsewhere, Ramsey and Bacchas are likely to have a close match. Bacchas dropped a point first time around and won’t be expecting to do the same again.

Women’s Division One is likely to see wins for the top three.

Bacchas Colts are likely to keep their two-point lead during their game with Castletown B. Valkyrs B also look strong this year and will expect to beat Ramsey B, while Vikings B should make light work of the second Harlequins team.

Saracens against Valkyrs C should be closer, but is likely to go in the southern teams favour provided their defence stays tight.

Men’s Division One is likely to see a big win for league leaders Castletown against Bacchas Colts.

Vikings C are a better side than their current fourth place positioning suggests, and will punish Valkyrs B with their scoring ability.

Saracens will find Harlequins more polished than in their encounter earlier in the season.

Ramsey are marching out in front of Men’s Division Two and will probably extend their lead against Bacchas C, while Castletown probably have the youth and strength to overpower southern rivals Saracens.

Under-16 league leaders Harlequins and Saracens start as favourites against Valkyrs and Bacchas respectively, although the division is proving close this year and is still anyone’s.

Fixtures: Saturday, February 24

PwC Men’s Premier Division

2.05pm Ramsey Crookall Bacchas A v Canaccord Genuity Vikings B at KWC

2.05pm Valkyrs A vs LJ Ramsey A at QEII

2.05pm Canaccord Genuity Vikings A v Ramsey Crookall Bacchas B at NSC

PwC Men’s Division One

2.05pm Cherry Godfrey Castletown A v Ramsey Crookall Bacchas Colts at CRHS

12.35pm Saracens A v Athena Healthcare Harlequins A at KWC

3.35pm Valkyrs B v Canaccord Genuity Vikings C at QEII

PwC Men’s Division Two

2.05pm Ramsey Crookall Bacchas C v LJ Ramsey B at RGS

11.05am Saracens B v Cherry Godfrey Castletown B at CRHS

PwC Women’s Premier Division

12.35pm Cherry Godfrey Castletown A v Athena Healthcare Harlequins A at CRHS

12.35pm LJ Ramsey A v Ramsey Crookall Bacchas A at RGS

PwC Women’s Division One

12.35pm Ramsey Crookall Bacchas Colts v Cherry Godfrey Castletown B at NSC

11.05am Athena Healthcare Harlequins B v Canaccord Genuity Vikings B at QEII

3.35pm Saracens v Valkyrs C at CRHS

3.35pm Valkyrs B v LJ Ramsey B at RGS

PwC Mixed Under-16s

11.05am Ramsey Crookall Bacchas v Saracens at NSC

3.35pm Swales Flooring Harlequins v Valkyrs at NSC

James Russell