With the domestic calendar looking a little threadbare this Saturday, there remains one important game in the Shimmin Wilson Manx Plate when Castletown will take on Western Vikings at Poulsom Park.

Vikings won their last encounter 57-12 just before Christmas and must start as favourites to make the final for the second year in succession.

Poulsom is a niggly little venue though. It can be very soft in places and has a slope at one side just to confuse the unwary.

It’s a comparatively small pitch and will suit Town who know it well. Vikings, however, tend to play a forward-orientated game and the small pitch will play to their strengths too.

The other finalists won’t be decided till later in the season.

The preliminary game between Douglas Celts and Ramsey B last week was postponed and for a variety of reasons it’s not been able to be rescheduled this weekend.

This therefore leaves Emerging Nomads, Vagabonds B and Ramsey B all free this weekend, but at the time of going to press nothing had been arranged.

Fixtures for Saturday, January 13

North One West

Douglas v Wilmslow @ Port-e-Chee ko 12.30pm

South Lancs/Cheshire Division Two

Congleton v Vagabonds @ Congleton

South Lancs/Cheshire Division Three(South)

Birchfield v Ramsey @ Birchfield

Shimmin Wilson Manx Plate - semi-final

Castletown v Western Vikings @ Poulsom Park ko 2.15pm

Friendly

Southern Nomads v Douglas Celts @ KWC ko 2.15pm