Hockey: Two division champions could be decided

Fixtures (5 Feb)

Rossborough Men’s Premier League

12:30 Ramsey Crookall Cronkbourne Bacchas A vs Canaccord Genuity Vikings B @ KWC

12:30 Motorworx Valkyrs A vs Canaccord Genuity Vikings A @ QEII

15:30 Exceed Business Services Ramsey A vs Motorworx Valkyrs B @ RGS

Rossborough Women’s Premier League

14:00 J.Qualtrough & Co Castletown A vs Motorworx Valkyrs B @ CRHS

14:00 Ramsey Crookall Cronkbourne Bacchas A vs Exceed Business Services Ramsey A @ KWC

14:00 Motorworx Valkyrs A vs Canaccord Genuity Vikings A @ QEII

Rossborough Men’s Division One

12:30 Ramsey Crookall Cronkbourne Bacchas B vs Canaccord Genuity Vikings C @ CRHS

15:30 J.Qualtrough & Co Castletown A vs J.Qualtrough & Co Castletown B @ CRHS

Rossborough Women’s Division One

12:30 Canaccord Genuity Vikings B vs Motorworx Valkyrs C @ NSC

15:30 Athena Healthcare Harlequins vs J.Qualtrough & Co Castletown B @ NSC

Rossborough Men’s Division Two

12:30 Ramsey Crookall Cronkbourne Bacchas C vs Exceed Business Services Ramsey B @ RGS

14:00 Athena Healthcare Harlequins B vs Motorworx Valkyrs C @ NSC

15:30 J.Qualtrough & Co Castletown Colts vs Ramsey Crookall Cronkbourne Bacchas Colts @ KWC

Rossborough Women’s Division Two

11:00 J.Qualtrough & Co Castletown C vs Exceed Business Services Ramsey B @ CRHS

15:30 Canaccord Genuity Vikings C vs J.Qualtrough & Co Castletown Colts @ QEII

Rossborough Mixed U16 2

11:00 Swales Flooring Harlequins vs Canaccord Genuity Vikings @ NSC

11:00 Motorworx Valkyrs vs J.Qualtrough & Co Castletown @ QEII

14:00 Ramsey Crookall Cronkbourne Bacchas vs Exceed Business Services Ramsey Rogues & Rascals @ RGS

Report by Sam Spooner:

This week marks the first week of the season that could see champions crowned with both Rossborough Women’s Division One and Rossborough Men’s Division Two titles up for grabs.

In the Rossborough Women’s Division One Harlequins will win the title if they can defeat Castletown B and seeing as they have defeated all teams they have faced fairly convincingly few will bet against anything other than a Harlequins title party. In the relegation battle Valkyrs C will be relegated if they are unable to find a way past Vikings B due to their head to head record against their nearest rivals Bacchas B. Having already played Bacchas B twice and lost twice the westerners will be hoping they can get the two points they need to stave off relegation for another week. Bacchas B don’t play this week so they can sit back and watch the drama unfold from a distance.

The other title that could be sealed this week is the Rossborough Men’s Division Two should Harlequins B defeat Valkyrs C and 3^rd placed Bacchas Colts lose or draw to Castletown Colts. Although Ramsey B are second, as long as Harlequins beat Valkyrs C Ramsey cannot beat them due to Harlequins having defeated the northerners twice this season and therefore having a better head to head record. Castletown Colts have struggled at times this season and given their form Bacchas Colts go into the match as favourites but following the southerners draw against 2^nd placed Ramsey B last week this is likely to be a fairly close match. Elsewhere Bacchas C will be hoping to do their club mates a favour in the race for second place by attempting to take points away from Ramsey B.

With all the attention directed towards the two leagues already discussed it is easy to forget the close battles in the other leagues. Firstly in the Rossborough Women’s Division Two one of the tightest championship battles is unfolding with all 5 teams in this league still in the title fight. 2 points separates top from bottom and everything is still to play for. Bacchas C currently sit in the driving seat due to goal difference and if points are still level at the end of the season they will definitely beat Vikings C who they have defeated twice this year due to the head to head record. However Castletown Colts who are also on 6 points beat Bacchas C the last time they met so Castletown have the upper hand if points remain level. Vikings C have alos played one more game than the other two teams on 6 points. Despite still being in the title fight Ramsey B and Castletown C currently sit on four points and they need to hope the top three all drop points to remain in the title fight for the rest of the season.

Although nothing can be decided in the Rossborough Women’s Premier League Valkyrs A will be looking to close the gap to Vikings A when they meet on Saturday. Vikings A are the outright favourites and on paper should open up a 5 point gap at the top of the table but Valkyrs have shown flashes of their ability and Vikings A will need to be on guard to avoid an upset. Bacchas A take on Ramsey A in the separate battle for third place whilst Valkyrs C can be relegated this weekend should they lose to Castletown A and Ramsey A beat Bacchas A.

Nothing can be decided in the Rossborough Men’s Premier League with the relegation battle likely to come down to the next meeting between Valkyrs B and Vikings B. Valkyrs B play Ramsey A whilst Vikings B take on league leaders Bacchas A. Vikings A meanwhile hope to maintain their title challenge when they face Valkyrs A.