Round two of rugby’s Manx Plate competition gets underway this weekend with two ties.

Western Vikings host Ramsey B at QEII High School, while Vagabonds Hornets take the trip south to Ballakilley Park to face Emerging Nomads.

After winning the earlier Manx Bowl competition, Neil Hulme’s Ramsey B side find themselves bottom of the standings after the opening round when they lost 37-10 to Emerging Nomads at Mooragh Park.

But Ramsey will be aware that the scoreline didn’t reflect what was a very close game and the defeat won’t have been too much of a blow.

The northerners’ skipper Hulme is doubtful because of a knee injury, but he does have two youngsters in Nathan Robson and Ross Quayle to potentially come into the team.

Vikings are known for their straight running game and will use the big-hitters Harry Goodwin and Josh Hockney to pound the Ramsey line to look for gaps.

Vikings won the last QEII encounter and probably start as favourites.

At the Field of Dreams, could Emerging Nomads dare to dream? The southerners’ first team beat Sure Vagabonds last Saturday and a double could be on the cards.

It was the Nomads youngsters who did the damage at Ramsey: Tony Quinn ran in two and Liam Savage scored on debut.

If the Nomads pack can hold the Hornets in the set piece, the young backline could do some damage.

Fixtures

Saturday, February 12:

North One West

Carlisle v Douglas @ Carlisle ko 1pm

Ravenscroft Manx Plate

Western Vikings v Ramsey B @ QEII ko 2.15pm

Emerging Nomads v Vagabonds Hornets

@ Ballakilley Park ko 2.15pm

DAVE CHRISTIAN