With Hope Sports Club booked for another event Valley will step back in time this Saturday (09 Oct) when they host Marple 2nd XV at Castleton Playing Fields in a NOWIRUL Shield 2nd round fixture (kick off 1500hrs).

It should prove to be a close encounter between the two teams currently lying first and second in Division 4 East.

Marple have had the best of recent encounters between the two clubs, winning the 2019-20 fixtures 66-12 at Marple and 48-26 when they visited the Valley on their way to winning the league title.

They started this season in similar form, beating Stockport 43-7, Village Spartans 35-10 and Didsbury 46-7 before suffering a shock 20-10 reverse on their visit to Old Bedians.

Valley, meanwhile, will look to continue their unbeaten start to the season and will be strengthened by the return of several players to the match day squad. However, they'll be missing last week's man-of-the-match Steve West (knee) and Luc Charmasson, who'll spend a week on "the naughty step" following his two yellow cards.