Hockey: Big weekend awaits for Island Ladies team

Local league titles all going down to the wire

England Hockey Championships Tier 2 Quarterfinals

11:00 Isle of Man Ladies vs Liverpool Sefton 1^st XI @ NSC

Rossborough Men’s Premier League

12:30 Motorworx Valkyrs A vs Canaccord Genuity Vikings B @ QEII

14:00 Exceed Business Services Ramsey A vs Canaccord Genuity Vikings A @ RGS

14:00 Motorworx Valkyrs B vs Ramsey Crookall Cronkbourne Bacchas A @ QEII

Rossborough Women’s Division One

11:00 Motorworx Valkyrs C vs J.Qualtrough & Co Castletown B @ QEII

15.30 Ramsey Crookall Cronkbourne Bacchas B vs Athena Healthcare Harlequins @ NSC

Rossborough Men’s Division One

14:00 Athena Healthcare Harlequins A vs J.Qualtrough & Co Castletown A @ CRHS

15.30 Canaccord Genuity Vikings C vs Ramsey Crookall Cronkbourne Bacchas B @ QEII

Rossborough Women’s Division Two

11.00 Ramsey Crookall Cronkbourne Bacchas C vs J.Qualtrough & Co Castletown C @ CRHS

12.30 J.Qualtrough & Co Castletown Colts vs Exceed Business Services Ramsey B @ CRHS

Rossborough Men’s Division Two

12.30 Athena Healthcare Harlequins B vs Ramsey Crookall Cronkbourne Bacchas Colts @ NSC

15.30 J.Qualtrough & Co Castletown Colts vs Motorworx Valkyrs C @ CRHS

15.30 Exceed Business Services Ramsey B vs Ramsey Crookall Cronkbourne Bacchas C @ RGS

Rossborough Mixed U16 2

12.30 Motorworx Valkyrs vs Canaccord Genuity Vikings @ RGS

14.00 Ramsey Crookall Cronkbourne Bacchas A vs J.Qualtrough & Co Castletown @ NSC

Report by Sam Spooner: 

Big weekend for the Island Ladies Team

With the Island ladies team playing the Quarterfinals of the England Hockey Championships Tier 2 all the Ladies Premier League matches have been postponed to next week with the the matches taking place in the evenings of Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

If the Island Ladies are to win this match however, they are going to have to pull out all the stops. Liverpool Sefton 1^st XI are the champions of the Northwest Women’s Premier League and are certainly going to be a difficult side to beat. With the best of the Islands ladies coming together this weekend it is a task that is within reach if the Islands ladies can start the match in top gear. Liverpool Sefton have averaged 2.45 goals per game whilst conceding only 0.77 goals per game in a tough league, and with 10 clean sheets to their name in 22 matches Liverpool Sefton boast a great defensive record to go with their attacking prowess in front of goal, which our Islands ladies will need to overcome. Supporters are more than welcome to come and show the Island Ladies some support.

Remaining League titles likely to go down to the wire

With only two games remaining for most teams, it is unlikely the remaining league titles will be decided this weekend. It is much more likely that that all of the remaining titles will be decided on the final weekend or mid-week next week.

One league that could in theory be decided this weekend is the Rossborough Men’s Division One. If Bacchas B can overcome a plucky Vikings C side and Castletown A lose to Harlequins A then Bacchas will take home the title on account of their superior head-to-head record. If, however Bacchas B somehow lose to Vikings C and Castletown A defeat Harlequins A then the southerners will move into the driving seat for the final weekend. There is nothing separating the two sides at the moment with both sides on 18 points, but Bacchas have a superior head-to-head record meaning the title destination is in their hands.

The Rossborough Men’s Premier League cannot be decided this weekend and will go down to the wire. A major step could be taken towards the title in midweek however when Bacchas A and Vikings A play their postponed fixture. Bacchas A currently sit 2 points clear however if Viking’s win, they move level on points and take the head-to-head record to move them into first place. This weekend Bacchas A have the easiest fixture when they face the relegated Valkyrs B whilst Vikings A need to make sure they do not become distracted when they face Ramsey A. Elsewhere Vikings B travel to Peel to take on Valkyrs A.

Castletown B may sit second in Rossborough Women’s Division One, but they remain favourites for the title after taking over the head-to-head record against their title rivals Harlequins. Both of these sides have comparatively easy fixtures with the bottom two sides in the form of Bacchas B and Valkyrs C facing the top two this weekend. With the southerner’s game in hand due to be played in midweek next week they could take over the top spot before the final round of fixtures.

The closest title race of them all is taking place in the Rossborough Women’s Division Two with 3 sides fighting for the title. Vikings C currently sit top of the table however they only have one more match to play and must rely on second placed Bacchas C dropping points in order to take the title. Bacchas C take on Castletown C this weekend and although the southerners are well capable of causing an upset it is Bacchas who take the favourites tag and will likely take the lead in the league this weekend. Castletown Colts who currently sit in 3^rd place could take top spot if Bacchas C lose however this weekend marks the colts last game where they take on Ramsey B so they will be