GREENOCK Wanderers take a break from their National 4 campaign this weekend as they aim to bounce back from a run of six straight league defeats, writes John Dyer.

Having lost 9-3 to Linlithgow in their last league match, this weekend it's National League Cup action for the Fort Matilda men, who are part of a pool with West of Scotland, GHK and their hosts under the floodlights on Friday night, Cartha Queen's Park.

In their only pool tie in the competition so far, Wanderers lost heavily at home to GHK back in August, but Cartha did likewise against West.

Wanderers lost 9-3 to Linlithgow in their latest league match.Wanderers lost 9-3 to Linlithgow in their latest league match. (Image: Graham Black) The two teams have already locked horns in 2024-25, though neither will be taking too much from that encounter - a pre-season friendly at Fort Matilda in August which Cartha won 41-31.

Since then the Dumbreck club, in a similar fashion to Wanderers, have struggled on league business so far this season, having lost all seven of their National 3 fixtures so far, the most recent being an alarming 99-26 thumping at the hands of Aberdeen Grammar on Saturday - though playing a division higher than Greenock, they will still present a stern test for the Wanderers.

Indeed, Cartha have brought in a new coach in a bid to turn around their fortunes, with the Glasgow side's only league points so far having come in the form of four 'try bonuses'.

The match is being played under the floodlights at Dumbreck on Friday, as both Cartha and Wanderers have club members and supporters attending the first of Scotland's autumn Tests on Saturday, against Fiji at Murrayfield.

Wanderers' selection for the tie has still to be made, with much of the final line-up dependent on the magic touch of the club's physio following a physical league game against Linlithgow last weekend.

Defintely out is co-captain McDaid, who sustained an elbow knock in the 9-3 defeat, though others may also find themselves ruled out by injury.

Wanderers' loss to Linlithgow was their sixth league defeat in a row.Wanderers' loss to Linlithgow was their sixth league defeat in a row. (Image: Graham Black) Wanderers will have to work hard in training this week to sort out some areas of their game which didn't work as planned against Linlithgow, in particular by being more careful with the ball and by not giving away so many penalties; a victory is badly needed to lift the team, who haven't won since defeating Whitecraigs in the league in mid-September.

Elsewhere this weekend, Wanderers' ladies' first XV play host to Wigtownshire on Sunday, also aiming to end a poor run of results which - apart from the points for an unfulfilled fixture at home to Oban Lorne in early October - has seen them go without a league win since early September.

The ladies' second XV are away to Glasgow University.

Wanderers' club sponsor is MMSEARCH; the ladies' section is sponsored by Straps of Gourock and Brow House Cosmetics.