It’s been just under three years since Ramsey and Vagabonds were in the same division of the national leagues.

The division was Cheshire (South) and while the games between the two ended honours even, Ramsey had dipped a little by the end of that campaign.

A post-season restructure saw them separated, Vagas heading into a new South Lancashire/Cheshire Division Two, while Ramsey slipped into Division Three.

Since then the clubs’ fortunes have been quite different. Ramsey went off for some national cup adventure and made the quarter-finals while Vagas suffered a well documented slump and are now looking to bounce back.

Last weekend Sure-sponsored Vagas won away at Prenton which was no mean feat and in the process they picked up their first bonus-point win in nearly two years.

Clearly new coach Ryan de la Harpe is having a positive effect at Ballafletcher.

Ramsey too had a big win at the Mooragh against niggly and gnarly opposition and the two are level in the standings with only a small points difference separating them.

Despite the nearness to the season’s start, Ramsey are carrying a casualty list.

Harri Radford, Eddie Lord, Dave Keenan, Will Wren and Ethan Benjamin are all doubtful while Neil Long will also miss out on concussion protocol.

John F. Watling, Mark Oldfield and Anthony Fergusson are expected back this week.

There are no reported worries from the Ballafletcher camp and Vagas are expected to be at full strength.

The last few games between these sides have not yielded many points and, with the possibility of rain this weekend, I suspect this one will be no different. A hard scrap is predicted in the forwards with last week’s hat-trick men Cam Inglis and Dan Bonwick trying to shine behind their packs.

This fixture, sponsored by Sure, really could go either way but I’m biased and fancy Ramsey for a narrow win.

FIXTURES: SEPTEMBER 8

North One West

Stockport v Douglas @ Stockport

Lancashire/Cheshire Three

Vagabonds v Ramsey @ Ballafletcher ko 3pm

Shimmin Wilson Manx Trophy

PDMS Southern Nomads v Emerging Nomads @ King William’s ko 2.15pm

Shimmin Wilson Manx Bowl

Vagabonds B v Ramsey B @ Ballafletcher ko 1pm