When you’re at the bottom of the table and winless after six matches, there are no easy fixtures, which is where Ramsey find themselves this weekend as Hoylake visit the Mooragh Park for the first time. The two sides have avoided each other since Ramsey joined the leagues in 2008 with Hoylake playing usually at a slightly higher level. Last season however the Terns finished in the drop zone of the then Lancashire/Cheshire Division 1 and realistically Ramsey would have been due to play them even without the decimation caused by a number of Lancashire Clubs leaving the competition. The first meeting between the sides was back in September at Hoylake’s Carham Road ground and Ramsey lost out 56-3.

Since then, there’s been no Ramsey renaissance however two recent home performances have given the Mooragh faithful some cause for optimism. A tight game against Ellesmere Port was the first green shoot, and last Saturday a 19-19 draw against Garstang saw the first bud take shape on the fledgling plant.

Ramsey fielded a strong side last Saturday and will look to do the same again. John F Watling has been struggling with a hamstring problem and he is doubtful however Jarred Callister returns after picking up a cut lip in training. Jamie Arneil deputised well for Watling at number eight and continues but Callister's return, means leading try scorer Rory Nicholson moves to second row and Jack Roberts drops to the bench. In the back line, all seems set to continue. Scott Kneale really stepped up last Saturday and the Bonwick/Meechan combination at centre looked solid too. There is however one change with Chris Hardisty replacing Connor Casey on the wing.

The formbook suggests a Hoylake win and you can’t really argue with that prognosis however Garstang ran them pretty close earlier on in the season and they lost by a point away at Birchfield who like Ramsey are rooted at the foot of the table. I suspect the game may be a lot closer than Hoylake are expecting.