The domestic sides have their final games of 2019 this week with two scheduled in the Manx Shield plus one in the Plate.

In the Shield, leaders Douglas Celts face Emerging Nomads at Port-e-Chee as they look to push ahead at the top of the table.

Nomads play well in bursts, but the power of the Douglas pack plus the organisation in the backline will probably be too much for them.

In the chasing group Southern Nomads play Western Vikings at King William’s College.

This game will be for six championship points. The earlier match was postponed and Vikings have agreed to go ’all in’ on this game.

Maximum points won’t put Nomads into immediate contention but they will jump up the table with victory which is surely coming.

The Plate game is, however, a little more intriguing.

Ramsey B travel to Vagabonds Hornets for their second meeting in this competition.

A strong Vagas side won the reverse fixture at Mooragh Park and Ramsey have struggled a little ever since.

The forthcoming Christmas break may, however, see some returning students which could just assist Ramsey who could do with a win to propel them up the table.

Fixtures:

Saturday, December 14

North One West

Altrincham Kersal v Douglas

@ Altrincham

Lancashire/Cheshire One

Ellesmere Port v Ramsey

@ Ellesmere Port ko 2pm

Manx Shield all ko @ 2.15pm

PDMS Southern Nomads v Western Vikings

@ King William’s College

Douglas Celts v Emerging Nomads

@ Port-e-Chee

Manx Plate

Vagabonds Hornets v Ramsey B

@ Ballafletcher ko 2.15pm

Round-up of the weekend’s rugby in next week’s

Isle of Man Examiner - on sale Tuesday morning.