The Tinker Cup semi-finals take place on Saturday with two fascinating games in prospect.

Holders Cronkbourne have a tough fixture. The Tromode side, top of the Premiership, have been drawn away to third placed Crosby. When the teams met in the league, the Marown side were bowled out for 67 and lost by six wickets.

Jaco Jansen, Carl Wagstaffe and Sam Kebbell each took three wickets while only Danny Kniveton and Dave Picken reached double figures for Crosby. Since then they have found form with a great win over last year’s champions Peel and St John’s, while the Douglas team went down to a 47 run defeat by the Saints.

This could be a close game. Crosby look a dangerous side and Cronkbourne will need to be at their very best to go through to the Final at the end of August.

On paper the other semi looks a foregone conclusion. Peel and St John’s, second in the Premiership, are at home to bottom placed Ramsey. Their league encounter earlier in the season was decisive. The northern club were dismissed for just 40 and the Saints romped home by nine wickets.

Akkie van den Berg took four wickets, while Kieran Cawte and Nick Hawke both claimed three wickets. Ramsey were well under strength that day, but it would take a real optimist to see them winning at Mullen-e-Cloie on Saturday.

However this is the Cup and stranger things have happened in the past. The return to the northern side of Sean Kelly, Tom Howard and Rob Webber should make a positive difference. The Saints need to be on their toes and not approach the match thinking it is going to be a walk-over. Otherwise their hopes of cup glory will be shattered.

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Next Tuesday the Isle of Man senior team will be in Country Antrim to play the strong Ireland Academy at Carrickfergus. This is a 50 overs per side game beginning at 11am.

The Island team is:- Phil Littlejohns (capt) (Peel and St John’s); Adam McAuley, Sam Kebbell, Sam Mills, Matt Ansell (Cronkbourne); Danny Kniveton (Crosby); Chris Hawke, Ollie Webster, Akkie van den Berg, Dan Hawke (Peel and St John’s) and
Ryan Windell (Valkyres). The manager and coach is Greig Wright.

The Manx will be up against powerful opposition. The Academy side are the development squad of Cricket Ireland. After this match they have a two day training camp before travelling to Jersey for the European World Cup Qualifiers. The team is managed by Ted Williamson and their coach is Ryan Eagleson.

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Karl Moore, well known for his hockey achievements, showed what a good all round athlete he is when he scored 106 in Monday’s Forrester match between Cronkbourne Bacchas and Crosby. The Douglas side made 206 for 4 with James Harrison giving good support to Moore with 36. Dave Picken took 3 for 20.

In reply Crosby made 175 for 6 with Joey Rothwell hitting 47 and Drew Buxton 43. James Harrison, Richard Weir and Jonny Callow each took two wickets in Bacchas’ 31 run victory.