Match Preview

Ramsey face their final fixture in the first phase of Lancs/Cheshire 1 when they travel to Birchfield this Saturday. After this weekend the league will split into two mini leagues of four and Ramsey will have six matches to try and avoid relegation. Their opponents will likely be Birchfield, New Brighton and A N Other which will probably be either Ellesmere Port or Garstang. Points from phase one will carry into phase two and the effect of this is that Ramsey’s main competitor will be Birchfield.

Ramsey’s record isn’t good and they have just one draw from thirteen outings and until last week were rooted to the bottom of the table. Birchfield have however suffered a ten point deduction for reasons unknown and that leaves them with precisely zero and means they take Ramsey’s place at the foot of the table. An away win from Ramsey would be a huge boost for the squad and give them a solid start to phase two. Player problems however suggest this is unlikely.

Dave Hinks, Matty Meechan, Scott Kneale, Sam Corlett and John F Watling are all on the sick list while hooker Nathan Hinks has retired from the sport. With Ramsey away from home too, Ben Harding and Dan Bonwick are unlikely to travel and Dave Keenan is on a work training course. There is however some good news. Adam Dunlop is at University in the area and he’ll meet up with the squad and making a welcome return to red and black are Josh Corteen and Connor Cracknell. All in all this will be a makeshift back line which may be a revelation, but could also allow Birchfield a sniff of a win.

The formbook has to go with Birchfield. The Ramsey side has however been playing some good stuff and anything in the points column from this game would be a good result.