Southern Nomads will head off for their first competitive game of the season on Saturday when they travel to Ellesmere Port for the opening round of the Cheshire Plate.

Ellesmere Port are the defending champions and this tie is a re-run of last season’s final where Nomads went down 43-0 in a somewhat one-sided game.

Nomads have had two outings already to try and blow away some cobwebs from the close season.

They met Vagabonds two weeks ago and also had a useful squad day at Ramsey last weekend.

Skipper Rob Keelan and paceman Gerard Landels both scored in the game against Ramsey and Nomads showed that at times they can be competitive against league opposition.

They’ll need to be at the best, however, to beat Ellesmere Port who look one of the favourites for promotion from Lancashire/Cheshire Division Three this season.