Ramsey aim to extend early lead

Manx side take on Liverpool University

With Lancashire/Cheshire Division Three being made up of eleven clubs instead of the customary fourteen, the league programme is littered with free weeks and the first of these is this Saturday.

For Ramsey however there is a rearranged fixture against Liverpool University which was done to assist the University team who were likely to have some personnel problems around the scheduled fixture which was set down for half term.

The University team lost at home to Oldershaw in week one of the season and as the odd team from eleven, they had a free week last week.

This has left them languishing at the foot of the table with no points at all.
 
Ramsey by contrast have had two bonus point wins and are the early league leaders.

A win this Saturday will see them go five or even six points clear at the top.

Two games in however is very early to try and predict form.

The University side are usually young and fit and will keep Ramsey running for 80 minutes.

Their narrow defeat by Oldershaw, who currently lie second, suggests that they could be a useful outfit this year and their strength at the Mooragh will be determined by who can or can’t travel.

Ramsey won home and away last season and will be looking to do the same.

The University however do compete in student based competition too so their league performances will be determined by how much they focus elsewhere.

Ramsey have no reported injury worries after last week’s solid win at Vagabonds.

Matty Meechan may well be back however and his availability will spark some selection dilemmas.

Jamie Arniel was excellent last week so should keep his back row spot and Chris Hardisty has been outstanding in the hooker role and should continue.

Neil Long missed out last Saturday under head injury protocols but he too could return on the wing.

Kick off at the Mooragh is at 1.30pm and Ramsey will be looking forward to playing in front of their partisan home crowd.