Sure-sponsored Vagabonds travel to Ruskin Park this Saturday for their last Lancashire/Cheshire Division Two outing of 2019.

The reverse fixture earlier this season didn’t go ahead as Ruskin were unable to field a team, but last season the spoils were shared with the home team taking the win each time.

Vagas have had mixed fortunes on the road this season, winning three and losing two in closely-contested matches.

The Merseyside outfit have struggled for players at times but on their day are a strong side so Vagas know what to expect having not won there in the last few attempts.

Up front changes are expected to be minimal. Kev Birchall, Luke Purdy and Matty Jones compete for starting places in the front row, while hooker Matty Rockwell faces a late fitness test.

Rob Martin and Rob Keelan were effective in the second row last week so are likely to link up again with the back row featuring the likes of Ross Pulman, Tom Gascyone and captain James Clarke.

Matty Williams and Phil Plaatjies are likely to line-up at nine and 10 respectively after solid performances last weekend, but face competition from Kieran Moore and Aaron Ledingham who both came off the bench last time out.

In the backline try scorers Ross McCulloch, Paul Howard and Cameron Findlay are all set to retain their places looking to add to their scoring tally.

Meanwhile pace men Steven Gawne, Dylan Chambers and Rob Pease all compete for starting positions on each wing.

Ruskin Park has been an unhappy hunting ground in recent years for Vagabonds, but if they can control the set piece, defend behind the gain line and show pace and skills out wide like last weekend they will be confident of bringing the points home and ending the year on a high.

FIXTURES: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7

North One West

Douglas v Northwich @ Port-e-Chee ko tbc

Lancashire/Cheshire One

Ramsey v New Brighton

@ Mooragh Park ko 1.30pm

Lancashire/Cheshire Two

Ruskin Park v Vagabonds @ Ruskin Park

Women’s NC 1 North West

Vagabonds v Leigh @ Ballafletcher ko 1pm

Manx Shield all ko @ 2.15pm

Castletown v Ramsey B @ Poulsom Park

PDMS Southern Nomads v Emerging Nomads

@ King William’s College

Vagas Hornets v Douglas Celts @ Ballafletcher