Hockey: Cup competitions heating up ahead of semi-finals

Four remain across six competitions going into Saturday's ties

Fixtures

Saturday, 1 March 2025

Men's Cup Semi-Finals

13.00 - Vikings A vs Bacchas A @ NSC

14.35 - Valkyrs A vs Castletown A @ KWC

Ladies Cup Semi-Finals

15.00 - Harlequins A vs Bacchas A @ NSC

15.00 - Castletown A vs Valkyrs A @ QEII

Men's Plate Semi-Finals

9.35 - Bacchas B vs Ramsey A @ RGS

12.35 - Vikings B vs Harlequins B @ KWC

Ladies Plate Semi-Finals

11.05 - Vikings B vs Bacchas B @ NSC

13.00 - Castletown B vs Valkyrs B @ QEII

Men's Bowl Semi-Finals

11.05 - Vikings C vs Castletown C @ CRHS

13.00 - Bacchas Colts vs Valkyrs C @ CRHS

Ladies Bowl Semi-Finals

11.05 - Valkyrs C vs Castletown E @ QEII

13.00 - Ramsey B vs Bacchas C @ RGS

Mixed Under-15's League

15.00 - Ramsey vs Vikings B @ RGS

15.00 - Castletown Sabres vs Bacchas @ CRHS

16.35 - Valkyrs vs Vikings A @ KWC

Report by Ben Cunningham:

In the Ladies Cup, Harlequins A will be hoping they can keep their good run of form up when they play Bacchas A who will desperately want to make it to the final again this year after losing out last year in the final to Castletown A. 

These two sides have met in the league with Bacchas taking the win, can Harlequins knock out another big name in the semis like they did in the first round when they beat Vikings A?

The winners will play either Valkyrs A or Castletown A - Valkyrs come into this game on the back of a narrow lost in the league last weekend; as for Castletown they have been flying in the league and so far Bacchas are the only team that have managed to break down the Castletown defence - they have only allowed two goals in so far this season.

In the Men's Cup - after defeating Valkyrs B in the first round - Castletown A now have to get past Valkyrs A for a spot in the final.

Valkyrs will definitely be wanting to get that spot in the final but we have said time and time again never underestimate a Castletown team because they have surprised a few teams in matches.

The other semi-final is between two big names and probably the two teams you would have favoured to be the final - Bacchas A vs Vikings A. 

Both these two sides will not want to miss out on the final and will definitely be wanting to get their name on the cup making this a thriller of a game and definitely my game of the weekend.

In the Ladies Plate, Castletown B meet Valkyrs B - Castletown B have been flying in the league so far and are still yet to be beaten this season; as for Valkyrs, a mixed bag of results recently but the westerners will be hoping they can have a good cup run like they did last year and hopefully keep the Ladies Plate in the west of the island after they won it last season.

Vikings B meet Baccahs B in the other semi-final - Vikings will be definitely hoping for better luck as the league hasn’t been going the way they would have wanted it, plus injuries haven’t been helping them fingers crossed they will hopefully get a good strong team out; For Bacchas,things in the league have been good and they are keeping the pressure on the top runners in the league.

In the Men's Plate, Bacchas B head to the north of the island to play Ramsey A - the northern side have had a good steady season so far; as for Bacchas B, they have been fighting it out at the top of the league hoping they can get that spot back up into the premier league... could they get into the final and do the double?

The other semi-final sees Harlequins B play Vikings B - For Harlequins, they are currently near the bottom of the league two points clear of the relegation spot; for Vikings, they are battling away with Bacchas B for that spot back to the premier league - could Vikings get into the final and look at doing the double or could Harlequins cause a cup upset?

In the Ladies Bowl, Valkyrs C - who have been on a great run of form - play Castletown E who have been battling away hard in the league - Castletown E are a newly-formed side with lots of young up-and-coming talent with the help of some senior players meeting a Valkyrs side who are pretty much the same, making this a close match-up.

The winners of that game will play Bacchas C or Ramsey B - Bacchas have been looking really good in the league and are battling away at the top of the league; for Ramsey, it’s been a mix bag of results but when they have needed to get a results they have really pushed themselves as a team to get it.

In the Men's Bowl, Vikings C - who currently sit top in Division Two - meet Castletown C who have looked really good in the last few weeks - Vikings will want to get their hands on the bowl but Castletown will not make as easy as Vikings would like it to be. These two meet only last week and it was only a narrow win.

The other semi-final is between Valkyrs C and Bacchas Colts - These two also met just last week and Valkyrs came away with the win so Bacchas will definitely want to make up for that this weekend.

If any of these semi-finals are still level at full-time they will go straight to penalty flicks to determine a winner.

Finally in the Mixed U15’s league Valkyrs play Vikings A; Castletown Sabres meet Bacchas; and finally, Ramsey U15’s face Vikings B.