Rugby: Ramsey and Western Vikings fly the flag in Cheshire Plate

Win for northerners will confirm Ramsey's first Cheshire final

Report by Dave Christian:

It's cup week in English rugby so league matches take a break for Douglas and Vagabonds men and women, however Ramsey and Western Vikings both see action in the Cheshire Plate competition.

The Plate competition is split into two pools which are known as conferences. Ramsey, Marple, Moore and Prenton are in conference one with Western Vikings, Oldershaw and Port Sunlight making up conference two.

Teams play everyone in their own conference and at the conclusion, the conference winners play off in the final on an as yet unknown date in February.

For Ramsey it's their third game of the campaign and they top their Conference with two wins from two - they have one foot in the final and a win at Moore on Saturday will confirm the club’s first Cheshire Final.

Moore aren’t competing in the RFU Leagues this season and instead fall into a local league, NORIWUL Division 3 South - they currently top the table with five wins from nine matches although they lost last week to Liverpool University. 

Ramsey have historically met them ten times with the honours even at five wins each, although their last meeting was way back in 2016.

Ramsey’s season has gone well so far and they’re unbeaten domestically as well as in Cheshire however the injuries are starting to rack up. 

Half back Dan Richmond is out until at least Christmas with a fractured cheekbone and eye socket and Joey Callow’s thigh injury from last Saturday looks likely to sideline him too with Luke Ward a possibility for university cover. 

The rest of the Ramsey squad is in fair shape though with the men to watch Nathan Robson and Brandon Atchison who both weighed in with tries last week, Moore however can be a little soft underfoot so Ramsey will need to be prepared for an arm-wrestle.

Vikings and Oldershaw are in the other conference and historically have never met in competition. 

Oldershaw play in NORIWUL Division 3 West and lie mid-table with four wins from four outings. 

The key statistic here though is that they’ve had eight league matches plus a Cheshire outing, while Vikings preparation has been a little shakier with just four games and some of those relying in support from other clubs. 

Cheshire rules mean they must stand on their own two feet for the Plate and while they’ll give it their best, they may come up a little short. 

Ed Knight is their undoubted star but the grittiness of Jack Goodwin will help against an experienced league outfit in what I think is the Club’s first Cheshire venture.

**

Fixtures, 25 November, 2023

Cheshire Plate

Moore v Ramsey @ Moore (1.30pm KO)

Oldershaw v Western Vikings @ Oldershaw (2.15pm KO)