Match Preview

After a couple of weeks away from league action Ramsey jump back on the horse this weekend to face Ruskin Park in Lancs/Cheshire Division 3. Ramsey are fifteen points clear at the top of the table with four games remaining. They need eleven points to become uncatchable and will be looking for five of these against Ruskin Park. The reds picked up maximum points in the away leg, winning 39-22 back in November. With home advantage they’ll fancy their chances. Ruskin Park are currently fourth place and mathematically could still finish in a promotion place. They have however a horrible run-in to the end of the season with away games at Ramsey and also second placed Ellesmere Port and third place Old Bedians. The odds are very much stacked against them.

Ramsey have an impeccable home record this season and are unbeaten thus far at Fortress Mooragh. Ruskin Park conversely have lost four from their seven away games. The stats show Ramsey with the meanest defence in the league and the most prolific attack and that of course doesn’t include match points from their walkover against Prenton. They clearly start as favourites on their home turf.

Ramsey will however be missing skipper Henry Swithinbank who remains on holiday and leading try scorer Dan Bonwick is also away as is Swithinbank’s stand in Ethan Benjamin. While the forwards remain largely unchanged, this leaves Ramsey with something of a hole in their back line.

The versatile Matty Meechan fills in at one centre with Ali Trace flying in to make one of his cameo appearances as the foil to Meechan's rapier. Andy Cleator returns on the wing and Will Wren covers a number of positions on the bench as long as he's had an injection for his hip.

Both sides come into the game with five wins from five in their last outings and someone will be disappointed on Saturday.