The 2014-15 Shimmin Wilson Manx Shield draws to a close this weekend with what promised to be a grand finale between the two top sides, PDMS Southern Nomads and Douglas B.
Sadly the game is now just a dead rubber with Nomads already confirmed as winners and Douglas second whatever the result after 80 minutes.
Nomads are enjoying another good season and victory here will see them complete their fixtures unbeaten.
They were in dynamic form last week with the defence soaking up Western Viking pressure and waiting patiently for the moment to strike.
Gerard Landels, Dan Bridle and Adam Boyd were the big runners in the backline while in the forwards Steve McHugh and Bozzer Beaumont were doing the damage.
They’ll find this week a little tougher though.
Ben Dutnall will be back for Douglas and will give solidity up front. Jack Moore was on fire last week and virtually won the game single handed, although he would be too modest to mention that.
I suspect we’ll see a tighter game for Nomads but their unbeaten run will continue.
The Shimmin Wilson-sponsored competitions are, however, far from finished.
With the Shield now out of the way, the Shimmin Wilson Manx Bowl can begin.
This is a three-way competition between Ramsey B, Western Vikings and Emerging Nomads.
They play each other home and away on a round robin basis and the best two from the three will play in the Bowl final later in the season.
This week the first game of the competition is at the Mooragh Park where Ramsey B take on Western Vikings.
These two sides took one apiece in the earlier Manx Shield. Ramsey B have perhaps shown the more consistent form with Gareth Hinge’s men just missing out on a top-three finish.
They have, however, lost Orry Watterson, John Ali and Jake Corkish to Southern Nomads on a big money deal at Christmas and will struggle to replace such fine figures of men.
Vikings star is without doubt skipper Kevin Mellor. He had a hand in both their tries last week and will be a handful for the Ramsey midfield.
I’m hopelessly biased and will plump for a Ramsey win but this could be very close indeed.