With Christmas turkey now a distant memory, battle recommences in rugby on Saturday with a round of fixtures in the Manx Cup and Plate.
In the former, Ramsey travel to Southern Nomads’ Field of Dreams at Ballakilley for their tie in the Manx Cup.
In the Plate, Ramsey B and Emerging Nomads will also take to the Field of Dreams, with Vagabonds B hosting Western Vikings at Ballafletcher.
The Cup tie should prove an interesting match up.
Nomads have been far from their best domestically and Ramsey’s results in Lacashire/Cheshire Division One clearly show they have problems too.
The sides met in the reverse fixture way back in September when two tries from Rory Nicholson helped Ramsey to a 36-12 win which thus far has been the northerners’ only win this campaign.
The Nomads side that day was far from full strength though and this weekend will see a proper battle.
Ramsey were shorn of some big players at the end of last season and the trend appears to be continuing.
John F. Watling has been out since October 19 with a hamstring niggle and Scott Kneale joins him on the sick list with a knee problem.
The versatile Jarred Callister has just headed off for an extended trip abroad which will undoubtedly challenge the depth of the Ramsey squad.
For Nomads, Furo Davies, Ross Mann and Ethan McNaught top the try charts, but Davies’s availability is football dependant and he may not feature.
Pace in the Nomads’ backline will be a strong feature in this match and Ramsey’s pack will need to dominate to try and counteract this.
In the Plate, the two second teams will also enjoy the new surface at Ballakilley.
On form, Emerging Nomads have looked the better, with Ramsey struggling to get a side.
Ramsey manager Mike Caine is hoping that the lure of the Field of Dreams will inspire his squad to start 2020 with a bang.
In the final game, Vagabonds Hornets host defending champions Western Vikings.
Like Ramsey B, both sides have struggled a little in the early part of the season.
Vikings have nevertheless recently seen last seen’s top try scorer Danny Howard back on the scoresheet.
If he is to be more of a regular then Vikings may just hang onto the Plate for another season.
FIXTURES: SATURDAY, JANUARY 4
North One West
Douglas v Bowdon @ Port-e-Chee ko tbc
Lancashire/Cheshire Two
Oswestry v Vagabonds @ Oswestry
Women’s NC North 1 West
Sale 1861 v Vagabonds @ Sale
Manx Cup
PDMS Southern Nomads v Ramsey@ Ballakilley ko 2.15pm
Manx Plate
Emerging Nomads v Ramsey B @ Ballakilley ko 2.15pm
Vagabonds Hornets v Western Vikings @ Ballafletcher ko 2.15pm