LEAGUE leaders Ramsey are under pressure in the Standard Bank Premiership.
Last Saturday they lost their first match of the season while title contenders Crosby and Valkyres both won.
These sides are now just two points behind the top club and each has a game in hand meaning it is vital that the northern team win their next fixture, otherwise the chasing pack could draw level.
That game goes ahead on Sunday at King William’s College and is a match fraught with danger for Ollie Webster’s side.
The Ramsey skipper returns from island hockey duty and his fans claim his influence will be significant. However, in 2011 he had problems against the Town.
Webster played against them in four league and cup clashes. He scored a total of 52 runs (average 13) and took five wickets at 16 each. Sunday will be a big challenge for him.
Town are riding high after a splendid win over Crosby.
Their two defeats at the start of the season are now forgotten and on their home pitch they take some beating. But there is a big worry. Last season they played Ramsey in three Premiership and two Cain league fixtures – and they did not win one of them.
Valkyres’ fine win over Cronkbourne has given them new confidence. The batting clicked again with Andy Stokes and Tom Reader making plenty of runs. Then the bowlers performed well to dismiss their opponents for 110.
Now they face champions St John’s in Douglas. The Saints have made a poor start to the year and will be anxious to climb up the table. With a full strength line-up they must be in with a good chance.
The excellent Tromode grass track is likely to be soft after all the rain and that spells danger for batsmen. It will also benefit the seamers and Akkie Van Den Berg will relish such conditions.
Crosby will be hoping to repeat their victory over Ramsey when Cronkbourne come to Marown. They ran up a good score while the bowling and fielding were excellent. Harry Rothwell had a five-wicket haul and the Crosby catching, particularly by Dave Picken, was excellent.
Cronkbourne are likely to have Max Stokoe back from England for his first local game of the year. He could be the difference between the two teams and this encounter could be close.
CRICKET RESULTS
Standard Bank Forrester Division Two
Castletown B v Peel C and Ronaldsway v Union Mills: Games abandoned (rain) – one point to each side.
Standard Bank Forrester Division Three
Crosby C 117 for 7 (Chris Hermann 22, Drew Buxton 15 : Tom Salmon 3-12, Karl Gartland 2-15); Finch Hill B 118 for 6 (Louis Thornton 53, Ben Bennett 14: Kieron Cawte 2-14, Sam Cubbon 1-16, Sam Bowers 1-25). Finch Hill won by four wickets.
CRICKET FIXTURES DIARY
Thursday, May 17
Standard Bank Forrester Division One (6.30pm)
Celton Manx Castletown A v Ramsey A
Habib Bank Valkyres A v Cronkbourne A
Standard Bank Forrester Division Two (6.30pm)
Black Grace Cowley St John’s B
v Colas Finch Hill B
--------
Saturday, May 19
Manx Youth Games
Cricket tournament at Tromode
--------
Sunday, May 20
Standard Bank Premiership (1pm)
Fairbairn Crosby v Cronkbourne
Celton Manx Castletown v Ramsey
Habib Bank Valkyres
v Black Grace Cowley St John’s
--------
Monday, May 21
Standard Bank Forrester Division Two (6.30pm)
Celton Manx Castletown B v Ronaldsway
White House Peel B v Cronkbourne B
Habib Valkyres B v Ramsey B
Standard Bank Forrester Division Three (6.30pm)
Fairbairn Crosby C v Colas Finch Hill A
--------
Tuesday, May 22
Standard Bank Forrester Division Three (6.30pm)
Grasshoppers v Celton Manx Castletown C
White House Peel C v Black Grace Cowley St John’s B
--------
Wednesday, May 23
Standard Bank Forrester Division Two (6.30pm)
Fairbairn Crosby B v Ronaldsway
Celton Manx Castletown B v Union Mills
--------
Thursday, May 24
Standard Bank Forrester Division One (6.30pm)
Celton Manx Castletown A
v Habib Bank Valkyres A
Cronkbourne A v Ramsey A
Standard Bank Forrester Division Three (6.30pm)
Grasshoppers v Colas Finch Hill B
White House Peel C v Celton Manx Castletown C