Ramsey take a trip to unchartered territory on Saturday when they travel to Carlisle to play non-league Creighton in the RFU Vase.

Both sides beat Liverpool University in the opening pool games and this Saturday’s clash is a winner-takes-all game.

Creighton would get through if the game was drawn as they have a superior points difference by seven points, but that is one statistic which is unlikely to come into play.

The prize is a quarter-final against the winners of pool two which looks likely to be Leeds outfit Old Otliensians.

Creighton aren’t part of the RFU National League structure and play their rugby in a Cumbria RFU Merit Table.

They’ve won only three from 10 and sit just below mid-table.

Their last outing was on January 13 when they lost at home to Workington’s second team and they haven’t won since early December which augurs well for Ramsey.

The Six Nations curse has, however, struck at the Mooragh Park with influential centre Dave Keenan away at Twickenham.

The good news is that Henry Swithinbank and Eddie Lord look likely to return to the fray and some of Ramsey’s UK exiles will also be available with Ally Trace and Charlie Bovenizer expected to join up with the squad.

The ginger ninja Matty Meechan is also available for the long road trip to Carlisle and he can fit in anywhere from second row backwards in the pack and is also comfortable at wing or centre too.

As ever this season the team will be led by statuesque tight-head Michéal Flynn who’ll pack down with Neil Hulme who has really settled into his loose-head role.

A win will edge that Twickenham final one step closer for Ramsey who still have a shot at promotion in phase two of their league.

Ramsey promotion

position confirmed

The final round of matches in South Lancashire/Cheshire Division Three (South) were scheduled for last Saturday.

With all three games postponed, the league committee had to intervene to determine who finished in the top-five and went into the promotion play-off.

Birchfield, Ellesmere Port, Ramsey, Parkonians and Mossley Hill all went forward and they will now form a new league with Garstang, Ormskirk, Old Bedians and Eagle from the sister north division. Ramsey’s first game will be on February 17 away at Liverpool outfit Mossley Hill.

FIXTURES: SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10

RFU National Vase - Pool One

Creighton v Ramsey @ Creighton ko 1pm

Shimmin Wilson Manx Shield all ko @ 2.15pm

Douglas Celts v Vagabonds B @ Port-e-Chee

Emerging Nomads v Ramsey B

@ King William’s College