Somerset Eagles, the last of the Premier Division teams to see action this season, will finally get their campaign under way tonight when they travel to Goose Gosling Field to meet Robin Hood (9pm).

Eagles, who escaped being relegated last season after sitting second-from-bottom when the final round of league fixtures were scrapped because of the Coronavirus pandemic, are aiming to get off to a winning start.

Ironically they meet Hood, the team they were due to play in that final match back in March, a team they would have had to beat in order to stay up if the final matches had been played.

Because there was only one team relegated, three teams will be relegated this season in order to get the Premier Division back down to ten teams.

Eagles lost four players in the summer transfer, including Teniko Eve who has returned to Devonshire Colts, but have picked up three PHC players, Dupray Joell, Kadeem Abraham and Kenji Griffith, as well as goalkeeper Troy Hall, the former Devonshire Cougars, Dandy Town and PHC player.

Sunday’s action will see PHC, Devonshire Colts, X-Roads and St George’s all looking to bounce back from opening day losses.

The Zebras will host the Colts at PHC Field as both teams will seek to build on good performances in their last outings. PHC fought back from two goals down to earn a 3-3 draw with Dandy Town in the Dudley Eve in midweek while promoted Devonshire Colts were unlucky to lose all three points to Somerset in their league opener last weekend after the Trojans scored a stoppage-time winner.

Somerset travel east to meet the other promoted side, St George’s Colts, at Wellington Oval in what should be an interesting encounter between the Cup Match clubs who did not get a chance to meet in the classic this summer.

In their last meeting on the football field in 2018, St George’s, then in the First Division, shocked Somerset 1-0 in an FA Cup first round tie in Somerset with a goal from Donavan Thompson after just 20 seconds.

Larry Smith, the Somerset assistant coach, who played for Devonshire Colts when their home field was Wellington Oval, expects a good match on the big field.

“As a league field, St George’s was the field I always liked to play on,” Smith said.

“There is just something about St George’s, even when it comes to cricket. It’s the length and width of the field that is impressive for me. We now have to learn how to play the game at St George’s where the pitch allows you to play.

“I saw them play a couple of games last season and Jarreau [Hayward] has a nice group.”

In the other matches X-Roads, with Thompson leading their attack along with new signing Ian Coke, take on Devonshire Cougars at nearby Garrison Field.

North Village, who began the defence of their league title with a 1-0 win over St George’s, meet Southampton Rangers for the second time this season, with their 4-0 drubbing in the Charity Cup still fresh in their minds ahead of their trip to Southampton Oval.

In the First Division, Hamilton Parish, who put eight goals past Vasco last weekend, will be looking to make it two wins out of two when they meet Young Men’s Social Club at Wellington Oval.

Boulevard, who beat Flanagan’s Onions 4-1, play Vasco at Goose Gosling Field while Ireland Rangers host St David’s at Malabar Field.