Ramsey get their Manx Cup campaign off a little sooner than expected on Saturday against Southern Nomads.

The northerners were scheduled to play Birchfield in Lancashire/Cheshire One, but the Widnes-based club has some early-season personnel issues because of the overlapping Rugby League season and the match has been postponed until late November.

Thanks to Nomads for stepping into the vacant spot at Mooragh Park though, the northerners will have a game.

Ramsey made the cup final last season but have a vastly changed squad.

Dan Bonwick is focussing on family life, Anthony Fergusson has hung up his boots, Fintan Cummins is trying the round ball game, Jarred Callister is heading to Australia, Mark Oldfield has transferred to Vagabonds, while last season’s skipper Henry Swithinbank is headed over to Canada whereas Adam Dunlop and Harri Radford are both off to university.

This means that last season’s title-winning side has been decimated.

There are, however, some plus points for Ramsey.

In the back row Harry Parsons and Kieran Kneale look tremendous prospects and Connor Goodall was sharp in the number nine jersey for the B team last week.

Matty Meechan has yet to return from his summer sojourn and Dave Keenan may return if he gets an injection for his troublesome shoulder.

As always, Nomads haven’t had the best pre-season.

They struggled for a warm-up fixture ahead of their Cheshire Plate game which was in any event postponed.

Last season’s skipper Rob Keelan has gone to Vagabonds and to cap it all second-rower Steve McHugh gets married this weekend.

New captain Jack Sleight will have his work cut out and will have his fingers crossed that a couple of the club’s university students are still available this week.

Ramsey won both meetings in last season’s cup, but with the number of squad changes they may not manage a repeat this time around.

This game should be very close and it is almost impossible to pick a winner.

FIXTURES: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14

North One West

Bowdon v Douglas @ Bowdon ko 3pm

Lancashire/Cheshire Two

Old Bedians v Vagabonds @ Old Bedians

Women’s NC 1 North West

Leigh v Vagabonds @ Leigh

Manx Cup

Ramsey v PDMS Southern Nomads

@ Mooragh Park ko 2.15pm

Manx Shield both kick-off @ 2.15pm

Douglas Celts v Western Vikings @ Port-e-Chee

Vagabonds B v Castletown @ Ballafletcher

DAVE CHRISTIAN

Ramsey made the cup final last season but have a vastly changed squad.

Dan Bonwick is focussing on family life, Anthony Fergusson has hung up his boots, Fintan Cummins is trying the round ball game, Jarred Callister is heading to Australia, Mark Oldfield has transferred to Vagabonds, while last season’s skipper Henry Swithinbank is headed over to Canada whereas Adam Dunlop and Harri Radford are both off to university.

This means that last season’s title-winning side has been decimated.

There are, however, some plus points for Ramsey.

In the back row Harry Parsons and Kieran Kneale look tremendous prospects and Connor Goodall was sharp in the number nine jersey for the B team last week.

Matty Meechan has yet to return from his summer sojourn and Dave Keenan may return if he gets an injection for his troublesome shoulder.

As always, Nomads haven’t had the best pre-season.

They struggled for a warm-up fixture ahead of their Cheshire Plate game which was in any event postponed.

Last season’s skipper Rob Keelan has gone to Vagabonds and to cap it all second-rower Steve McHugh gets married this weekend.

New captain Jack Sleight will have his work cut out and will have his fingers crossed that a couple of the club’s university students are still available this week.

Ramsey won both meetings in last season’s cup, but with the number of squad changes they may not manage a repeat this time around.

This game should be very close and it is almost impossible to pick a winner.