Ramsey RUFC head across the water for their final game of 2017 when they travel to Mossley Hill on Saturday in South Lancs/Cheshire Division Three (South).

To be in the reckoning for promotion, the Manx side need to finish in the top five of the first phase of this two-stage competition.

After the end of January, the top five break away into a new league together with the top four from South Lancs/Cheshire Division Three (North). In the new league, everyone will play each other just the once and the top two will be promoted.

Ramsey have a couple of returning players after Christmas and will fancy their chances of challenging, but that question is academic unless they get a top-five finish now.

Last week’s bonus-point win against Newton le Willows set them on their way but with only five fixtures remaining they really could do with beating Mossley Hill this week.

Three of their five games are against the two sides who have led the league since the beginning and with the middle of the table looking very congested, every point is now a prisoner.

There are seven sides in contention for five places and Mossley Hill, who won at Mooragh Park earlier in the season, are one of those.

Last week was tough work for Ramsey but they won out in the end with some fine personal performances from Matty Meechan, Jared Callister and old-timer Aneurin Pritchard.

Injury-wise things are slowly improving. Dave Keenan may be back to his best and Will Wren’s broken wing is also shaping up. Eddie Lord, however, looks likely to be sidelined till after Christmas.

Dan Bonwick had a fine game at scrum half last week but wants to return to the back row and Charlie Bovenizer may fill in at scrum half. There could also be a front-row vacancy alongside mainstay skipper Michéal Flynn.

With some of the other mid-table sides meeting tough opposition this weekend, this match is a real opportunity for Ramsey to steal some points and bed themselves into a strong position.

Fixtures: Saturday, December 16

North One West

Douglas v Firwood Waterloo

@ Port-e-Chee ko 2.15pm

South Lancs/Cheshire Division Two

Vagabonds v Port Sunlight @ Ballafletcher ko 2.15pm

South Lancs/Cheshire Division Three (South)

Mossley Hill v Ramsey @ Mossley Hill ko 2.15pm

Shimmin Wilson Manx Shield all ko @ 2.15pm

Castletown v Western Vikings @ Poulsom Park

Ramsey B v Southern Nomads @ Mooragh Park

After the end of January, the top five break away into a new league together with the top four from South Lancs/Cheshire Division Three (North). In the new league, everyone will play each other just the once and the top two will be promoted.

Ramsey have a couple of returning players after Christmas and will fancy their chances of challenging, but that question is academic unless they get a top-five finish now.

Last week’s bonus-point win against Newton le Willows set them on their way but with only five fixtures remaining they really could do with beating Mossley Hill this week.

Three of their five games are against the two sides who have led the league since the beginning and with the middle of the table looking very congested, every point is now a prisoner.

There are seven sides in contention for five places and Mossley Hill, who won at Mooragh Park earlier in the season, are one of those.

Last week was tough work for Ramsey but they won out in the end with some fine personal performances from Matty Meechan, Jared Callister and old-timer Aneurin Pritchard.

Injury-wise things are slowly improving. Dave Keenan may be back to his best and Will Wren’s broken wing is also shaping up. Eddie Lord, however, looks likely to be sidelined till after Christmas.