Following an excellent mixed season and the Christmas break, players can now get excited about the start of the men’s and women’s hockey seasons.

In the Men’s Premier League, Vikings will look to carry the excellent mixed showing into the men’s season and beat a very capable Valkyrs A side looking to improve on their own mixed campaign.

Vikings men will be looking to mount a serious title challenge this year and have a difficult game to start their season with.

Vikings B made a miraculous escape from relegation last year, earning the point they needed to stay up on the final day of the season. They begin their season with a difficult game against newly-promoted Castletown A who will be favourites going into this game with the talent and strength they have in their squad.

Bacchas A are one of the favourites for the title again this year and open their account against a steadily-improving Ramsey A side. The latter came close to beating the established teams last year and this young side will look to improve again.

In the Women’s Premier League, Bacchas A open their account against Castletown A in a game that the former will start as favourites - with the strength in depth Bacchas have, Town will do well to take anything away from this game.

The other match in the Premier League sees Valkyrs A take on Ramsey A in what is easily the game of the day. These two teams had some great battles last year and will no doubt provide some very entertaining fixtures again this time around.

The Men’s Division One games include Saracens A versus Ramsey A, with Saracens starting as favourites. Bacchas B will be looking to make their way back to the top tier following relegation last year and begin their season against a strong Valkyrs B side, while Harlequins A will look to beat Vikings C who will be among the favourites for relegation.

One of the other games of the day takes place in the Women’s Division One, with Harlequins A taking on Bacchas B. Quins have lost two important players in Emily Middleton and Sam Hassall who have both transferred to Bacchas for the women’s season, but they are still well capable of beating anyone on their day.

The other game in this division see Saracens A take on Valkyrs B, with Saracens edging the favourites tag by a gnat’s whisker.

SAM SPOONER

Saturday, January 5

PwC Women’s Premier League

12.30pm Cherry Godfrey Castletown A v Ramsey Crookall Cronkbourne Bacchas A

@ CRHS

12.30pm West Coast Fitness Valkyrs A v Ramsey LJ A @ QEII

PwC Men’s Premier League

2pm West Coast Fitness Valkyrs A v Cannacord Genuity Vikings A @ QEII

2pm Cannacord Genuity Vikings B v Cherry Godfrey Castletown A @ NSC

PwC Women’s Division One

11am Saracens A v West Coast Fitness Valkyrs B @ CRHS

12.30pmAthena Healthcare Harlequins A v Ramsey Crookall Cronkbourne Bacchas B

@ NSC

PwC Men’s Division One

11am Ramsey Crookall Cronkbourne Bacchas B v West Coast Fitness Valkyrs B @ NSC

12.30pm Athena Healthcare Harlequins A v Cannacord Genuity Vikings C @ RGS

3.30pmSaracens A v Ramsey LJ A

@ RGS

PwC Women’s Division Two

11am West Coast Fitness Valkyrs C v Ramsey Crookall Cronkbourne Bacchas C

@ QEII

1pm Saracens B v Cherry Godfrey Castletown B @ KWC

PwC Men’s Division Two

2pm Cherry Godfrey Castletown B v Ramsey Crookall Cronkbourne Bacchas C

@ CRHS

2.30pm West Coast Fitness Valkyrs C v Saracens B @ KWC