After some Port-e-Chee pitch issues saw the original game postponed, Douglas Celts versus Ramsey B finally gets a space in the fixture list this Saturday, by Dave Christian.

In the other side of the Shimmin Wilson Manx Plate draw, Western Vikings have already booked their place in the final and the winner of this game will face Vagabonds B in a semi-final to see who meets the men from Peel.

On paper, I will be excused for observing that this would appear to be a formality for Douglas Celts.

The defending Manx Shield champions have been in pretty good touch so far this, season although have been hampered by a lack of games.

They’ve already beaten Ramsey B 84-0 and 42-0 in the Manx Trophy competition and will clearly start as favourites.

In Nathan Knights they have a proven try scorer who can play any position in the back three.

Former Ramsey man Josh Carine can also cover multiple backline positions and, with competition for first-team places, all will be keen to impress.

In the back row Douglas have the services of Daryn Thompson.

He’s abrasive and knows all the tricks and is another proven try scorer, with two against Southern Nomads only a couple of weeks ago.

I watched Ramsey B last week against Western Vikings.

They were beaten up a little in the first 35 minutes but then started to play a lot more like team and for the final 55 minutes they held Vikings 19-10.

Douglas will be a big step up again but there was some definite quality in the Ramsey side.

Spud Watterson at fullback was fast and Tom Moffatt at standoff was putting himself around like a back row forward.

If everyone can up their game another level they may just compete with Douglas, but if they players aren’t up for it Douglas will stroll into the semi.

Ramsey and vikings

in junior cheshire cup

It’s the second round of the Junior Cheshire Cup this weekend with both Ramsey and Western Vikings in action.

Ramsey head for Lymm where they will hope to build on their first-round result when they thrashed Altrincham Kersal.

Vikings head a little further east to Stockport. They beat Birkenhead Park in their opening excursion and will also be looking to build.

Fixtures: Saturday, February 3

North One West

Blackburn v Douglas @ Blackburn

South Lancs/Cheshire Division Two

Vagabonds v Didsbury Toc H

@ Ballafletcher ko tbc

Women’s NC North One West

Preston Grasshoppers v Vagabonds

Shimmin Wilson Manx Plate

Douglas Celts v Ramsey B

@ Port-e-Chee ko 2.15pm

Manx Shield both ko @ 2.15pm

Vagabonds B v Emerging Nomads @ Ballafletcher

Western Vikings v Castletown @ QEII

U16 Friendly

Ramsey v Sandbach @ Mooragh Park ko 3pm