After a breathless few days of hockey last week which saw the top teams taking each other on, there’s no let-up in the action across pitches this coming weekend.
Game of the day comes undoubtedly from the PwC Women’s Premier League as Lauren Brew’s LJ Ramsey host champions and league leaders Canaccord Genuity Vikings A.
There’s been a lot of column inches written about Vikings’ incredible unbeaten record (95 games and counting), but it could be seriously threatened by the Greens on Saturday.
The northerners are on fine form both on and off-island and leapfrogged Bacchas last week to lie just a point behind the Blacks.
Conceding just three league goals all season, Ramsey’s miserly defence will attempt to thwart the league’s best attack. The two sides shared a 1-1 draw earlier in the season - expect a similarly tight game.
Elsewhere in the division, it will be a tense affair for Hannah Leece’s Partitionware Castletown A against Bacchas B.
Only a win will be enough for Anne Harrison’s Bacchas as they attempt to get off the mark, before their first team have another grudge match with their western rivals in Crowe Morgan Valkyrs A.
PWC Men’s Premier League
Over in the PwC Men’s Premier League and it looks on paper like three routine wins for the top sides in the division.
On Friday night, it’s Tromode derby day as table-toppers Bacchas A play their seconds. Valkyrs cannot afford to lose any ground on Jamie Brown’s leaders as they host Castletown A, while after Ramsey’s first point of the season last week they will attempt to keep the momentum going against a talented Vikings A squad.
PWC Women’s
Division One
Hockey in the PwC Women’s Division One has been a breath of fresh air this season with the top two Harlequins and Vikings B playing with a certain ‘joie de vivre’, their young players in particular impressing with fast, fluid, attacking hockey.
They face Valkyrs B and Saracens respectively and both will be confident of picking up wins.
PWC Men’s Division One
In the PwC Men’s Division One, Chris Cave’s Harlequins will be seeking revenge on Vikings Hockey Club after being beaten by the seconds last week, and have an immediate opportunity against their in-form Colts side.
The rest of the league is relying on leaders Vikings B to drop points against Bacchas Colts, especially Andrew Winstanley’s Saracens side who will aim to stay in touch by dispatching Ramsey B.
PWC Women’s
Division Two
The top two meet in PwC Women’s Division Two, as Donna Harrison’s unbeaten Valkyrs C take on Harlequins B. If the westerners win, they will be at least three points clear and have one hand on the divisional trophy.
Bacchas C can move ahead of Quins with victory over Castletown B.
PWC Men’s Division Two
Finally, over to PwC Men’s Division Two in a league that is all but sealed by Neil Shimmin’s imperious Valkyrs B.
Having won all six games this season they find themselves six points clear with just four games left.
A victory over Harlequins B and Castletown B failing to beat Bacchas C will precipitate champagne corks popping all over Peel.