Weekend Sports Preview

There’s plenty for the dedicated sports fan to get excited about this weekend with hockey, rugby, football, netball and cross-country on the agenda.

In the former, the new men’s and women’s leagues begin on Saturday.

There’s games across the island, with matches taking place at King William’s College, Castle Rushen, NSC, QEII and Ramsey Grammar throughout the day.

Football returns to league action after a dalliance with the FA Cup last weekend. Premier League leaders Peel take on reigning champions Ayre United in the pick of the top-flight games, while promotion hopefuls Castletown and Braddan meet at the Stadium in DPS Division Two. All games kick off at 2pm.

In rugby, there’s a double header of sorts at Ballafletcher where Vagabonds’ women’s side host Southport at 2pm, while the club’s men’s side entertain Ellesmere Port.

Douglas are away at Altrincham Kersal om Regional Two North West, aiming to build on last week’s hard-fought home win over Wilmslow. Domestically, the new-look Ravenscroft Manx Trophy launches. This new competition sees three sides gathered in one location aiming to get a 15-a-side game on.

This is the MRFU’s response to falling player numbers and a number of postponements of fixtures in the Manx Shield prior to Christmas. Castletown, Western Vikings and Ramsey Reds provide the combatants at Poulsom Park, while Southern Nomads Greens, Ramsey Blues and Eastern Barbarians meet at Ballakilley Park in Port Erin. Both matches kick off at 2.15pm.

On to Sunday, and the main event is undoubtedly the cross-country championships at QEII school. In what is also the final round of the cross-country league, the action gets going at 1pm with the under-9s.

If running around a muddy field in the cold is not your thing, there’s a full hit of netball on Sunday morning with games in all four senior leagues at Bemahague and the NSC.