KUKRI QUALIFYING 1
BANGOR v UUC
The seasiders will want to bounce back from their shock 20-13 defeat away to Ballymoney in their last league outing. The students have struggled in Kukri Qualifying 1 this season and will come up against a side looking the maximum five points to take advantage of their one game in hand as they push for league honours. Bangor coach Rupert Preston and Captain Jamie Clegg will ensure their side are fully focused for this vital game. Bangor have talent ...
KUKRI QUALIFYING 1 BANGOR v UUC The seasiders will want to bounce back from their shock 20-13 defeat away to Ballymoney in their last league outing. The students have struggled in Kukri Qualifying 1 this season and will come up against a side looking the maximum five points to take advantage of their one game in hand as they push for league honours. Bangor coach Rupert Preston and Captain Jamie Clegg will ensure their side are fully focused for this vital game. Bangor have talent throughout the side with their lively threequarters of David Charles, Neil Cuthbertson, and Mark Widdowson creating and scoring tries. Bangor to win. COLERAINE v DONAGHADEE Sandel Lodge has not proved a happy hunting ground for the North Down side who found last weeks visit to Ballymoney one step too far in the Junior Cup. The challenge for Player/ Coach Paul McKenzie is to pick up his players for this vital league encounter as his side attempt to make another late push for a top four place and qualification for the All Ireland Junior Cup. Junior Cup semi finalists Coleraine will buoyed by their Junior Cup success and Coach Richard Beggs will hope his side can use their Cup form to put together a league run and move away from the lower regions of the league. The Coleraine backrow of Kenny Calladine, Stephen Douglas and Bernard Mullan are very much the driving force within the team. COOKE v CIYMS Despite their lowly league position Cooke forced champions Portadown to hang on in their recent narrow 15-10 win over the Shawsbridge side. Once again the Gourlay brothers Alan and Alex will pose a considerable attacking threat to the East Belfast side as player/coach Colin Atkinson will want to move around the big CIYMS pack. CIYMS Captain Stuart Ferguson knows his side have had to dig deep to win recent games as they hung on to win 11-9 at home to Dromore. CI have match winners in backs Andy Hodgen and Matthew McCormick along with the presence of Ross Hackney, Steven McReynolds and Gavin Woods in the forwards. DROMORE v CLOGHER VALLEY After sitting in the top four, Dromore have slipped down to seventh place after narrow defeats to title contenders CIYMS and Portadown in their last two league outings. Coaches Dewet Bekker and Jeremy Ogle know their side need to win these close games if they are to push for a top four finish. The Dromore back row of Jonny Maguire, Adam McGregor and Gareth Fitzpatrick along with half backs Chris Jenks and Ryan Cobb have vital roles to play in this game. Clogher Valley will be hurting from their Junior Cup defeat last Saturday and expect coaches Glen Kyle and Davy Black to push for a convincing win from their charges. Ballyclare's defence was able to withhold the onslaught of the Tyrone sides forwards last Saturday and secure the all important win. Can the County Down side secure a win against one of the top four sides. No doubt the vociferous Barban Hill faithful will turn out in large numbers to urge their side on. PORTADOWN v BALLYMONEY Once again the Chambers Park faithful will have another pretender to their throne to visit them on Saturday. Coach Richard Hedley will have been disappointed by their defeat to Ballynahinch 2nds in the Junior Cup over the weekend. Their forward strength is being challenged by sides playing an expansive game as witnessed by the recent encounter with Cooke. Ballymoney have only lost once in their last nine outings (21-15 defeat to Ballymena 2nds in the Conference league). Expect coaches Neil Beddow and Jason Taggart to have their Toon side up for this game. With a Junior Cup semi final to look forward to, their is real competition for places. Outhalf Jamesy Campbell has become a prolific goal kicker for his side. Captain Alex Watson and his backrow of Jonny Hanna, Garvin Bellingham and Ryan Clyde will have to battle it out for supremacy against the experienced Gary Hall, Dairmund O'Kane and James Carleton. On current form this is a very close game to call.
KUKRI QUALIFYING 2 ACADEMY v GROSVENOR Two sides sit mid table after their opening five league games. Relegated Academy are rebuilding and are capable of mounting a strong finish to their league campaign. Grosvenor after a promising start to their season have failed to live up to their potential. Academy to win. BALLYCLARE v CARRICKFERGUS A County Antrim derby that will attract a large crowd to Cloughan. On paper the 'Clare side have to be firm favourites but coach Bob Young and Captain Robert Boyd know their players cannot afford to be complacent against an improving Carrick side under player coach Jonny Cullen and Captain Andy Kinkaid. The Carrick side know any mistakes will be punished by a potent 'Clare backline directed by half backs Adam Wardrop and Collie Morrow. ENNISKILLEN v LIMAVADY Both sides were expected to mount a challenge in the league this season. Results have placed them eighth and ninth in the league above winless Strabane. Limavady recorded a 10-20 away win against Enniskillen in the first round of the Junior Cup and the North West team were expected to build on this performance. Unfortunately they have only one league win to show for their efforts from six outings with Enniskillen winning two from six. 'Skins coach Alastair McKee and captain Ricky Connor have much work to do to lift the fortunes of the Fermanagh club. Enniskillen to win. OMAGH v RANDALSTOWN Having played only four league games Omagh coach Philip Marshall knows his side have to close the gap to catch league leaders Ballyclare. Randalstown have quietly moved up the league table under the guidance of coaches Gary Longwell and Alastair Strange and become serious promotion challengers to both Ballyclare and Omagh. Omagh will rely on forwards Mervyn Edgar, Mark Smyth and captain Andrew Ferguson to build a platform for their talented backline. Influential No 8 Chris Allen has become a key player for the Antrim side scoring match winning tries in recent games. Omagh should just edge this one with home advantage.
KUKRI QUALIFYING 3 HOLYWOOD v DONEGAL TOWN This vital game at Kerr Park will draw a large crowd as unbeaten Holywood will want to regain top place in the league. Donegal know this is a must win game for them if they want to win the league. Their only defeat in the league was a narrow 16-10 loss at Larne but they returned to winning ways by defeating Letterkenny 15-10 last Saturday. Expect this game to be physically competitive, with the hosts the likely winners. LARNE v PSNI Laurence Kelly's side continue to impress after their early season league defeat to Holywood. Hard earned wins over Donegal and Newry have galvanised the side in their push for league honours. PSNI have disappointed this season and are struggling to avoid relegation. Expect a convincing Larne win. LETTERKENNY v NEWRY Interesting game between two sides who have improved and will prove difficult opposition for any sides in this league. Letterkenny pushed Donegal all the way before losing narrowly last Saturday. Letterkenny have a proud home record this season but don't be surprised if Newry pull of a result as they have the talent within their squad.
KUKRI QUALIFYING 4 BHSFP v CAVAN The Greenisland side recorded a 6-36 win at Armoy in their last outing, scoring six tries in the process. Cavan lost 6-16 at home to league leaders Ophir in a keenly contested game last Saturday. Both sides are evenly matched so home advantage should see a High School win.
KUKRI QUALIFYING 1 BANGOR v UUC The seasiders will want to bounce back from their shock 20-13 defeat away to Ballymoney in their last league outing. The students have struggled in Kukri Qualifying 1 this season and will come up against a side looking the maximum five points to take advantage of their one game in hand as they push for league honours. Bangor coach Rupert Preston and Captain Jamie Clegg will ensure their side are fully focused for this vital game. Bangor have talent throughout the side with their lively threequarters of David Charles, Neil Cuthbertson, and Mark Widdowson creating and scoring tries. Bangor to win. COLERAINE v DONAGHADEE Sandel Lodge has not proved a happy hunting ground for the North Down side who found last weeks visit to Ballymoney one step too far in the Junior Cup. The challenge for Player/ Coach Paul McKenzie is to pick up his players for this vital league encounter as his side attempt to make another late push for a top four place and qualification for the All Ireland Junior Cup. Junior Cup semi finalists Coleraine will buoyed by their Junior Cup success and Coach Richard Beggs will hope his side can use their Cup form to put together a league run and move away from the lower regions of the league. The Coleraine backrow of Kenny Calladine, Stephen Douglas and Bernard Mullan are very much the driving force within the team. COOKE v CIYMS Despite their lowly league position Cooke forced champions Portadown to hang on in their recent narrow 15-10 win over the Shawsbridge side. Once again the Gourlay brothers Alan and Alex will pose a considerable attacking threat to the East Belfast side as player/coach Colin Atkinson will want to move around the big CIYMS pack. CIYMS Captain Stuart Ferguson knows his side have had to dig deep to win recent games as they hung on to win 11-9 at home to Dromore. CI have match winners in backs Andy Hodgen and Matthew McCormick along with the presence of Ross Hackney, Steven McReynolds and Gavin Woods in the forwards. DROMORE v CLOGHER VALLEY After sitting in the top four, Dromore have slipped down to seventh place after narrow defeats to title contenders CIYMS and Portadown in their last two league outings. Coaches Dewet Bekker and Jeremy Ogle know their side need to win these close games if they are to push for a top four finish. The Dromore back row of Jonny Maguire, Adam McGregor and Gareth Fitzpatrick along with half backs Chris Jenks and Ryan Cobb have vital roles to play in this game. Clogher Valley will be hurting from their Junior Cup defeat last Saturday and expect coaches Glen Kyle and Davy Black to push for a convincing win from their charges. Ballyclare's defence was able to withhold the onslaught of the Tyrone sides forwards last Saturday and secure the all important win. Can the County Down side secure a win against one of the top four sides. No doubt the vociferous Barban Hill faithful will turn out in large numbers to urge their side on. PORTADOWN v BALLYMONEY Once again the Chambers Park faithful will have another pretender to their throne to visit them on Saturday. Coach Richard Hedley will have been disappointed by their defeat to Ballynahinch 2nds in the Junior Cup over the weekend. Their forward strength is being challenged by sides playing an expansive game as witnessed by the recent encounter with Cooke. Ballymoney have only lost once in their last nine outings (21-15 defeat to Ballymena 2nds in the Conference league). Expect coaches Neil Beddow and Jason Taggart to have their Toon side up for this game. With a Junior Cup semi final to look forward to, their is real competition for places. Outhalf Jamesy Campbell has become a prolific goal kicker for his side. Captain Alex Watson and his backrow of Jonny Hanna, Garvin Bellingham and Ryan Clyde will have to battle it out for supremacy against the experienced Gary Hall, Dairmund O'Kane and James Carleton. On current form this is a very close game to call.
KUKRI QUALIFYING 2 ACADEMY v GROSVENOR Two sides sit mid table after their opening five league games. Relegated Academy are rebuilding and are capable of mounting a strong finish to their league campaign. Grosvenor after a promising start to their season have failed to live up to their potential. Academy to win. BALLYCLARE v CARRICKFERGUS A County Antrim derby that will attract a large crowd to Cloughan. On paper the 'Clare side have to be firm favourites but coach Bob Young and Captain Robert Boyd know their players cannot afford to be complacent against an improving Carrick side under player coach Jonny Cullen and Captain Andy Kinkaid. The Carrick side know any mistakes will be punished by a potent 'Clare backline directed by half backs Adam Wardrop and Collie Morrow. ENNISKILLEN v LIMAVADY Both sides were expected to mount a challenge in the league this season. Results have placed them eighth and ninth in the league above winless Strabane. Limavady recorded a 10-20 away win against Enniskillen in the first round of the Junior Cup and the North West team were expected to build on this performance. Unfortunately they have only one league win to show for their efforts from six outings with Enniskillen winning two from six. 'Skins coach Alastair McKee and captain Ricky Connor have much work to do to lift the fortunes of the Fermanagh club. Enniskillen to win. OMAGH v RANDALSTOWN Having played only four league games Omagh coach Philip Marshall knows his side have to close the gap to catch league leaders Ballyclare. Randalstown have quietly moved up the league table under the guidance of coaches Gary Longwell and Alastair Strange and become serious promotion challengers to both Ballyclare and Omagh. Omagh will rely on forwards Mervyn Edgar, Mark Smyth and captain Andrew Ferguson to build a platform for their talented backline. Influential No 8 Chris Allen has become a key player for the Antrim side scoring match winning tries in recent games. Omagh should just edge this one with home advantage.
KUKRI QUALIFYING 3 HOLYWOOD v DONEGAL TOWN This vital game at Kerr Park will draw a large crowd as unbeaten Holywood will want to regain top place in the league. Donegal know this is a must win game for them if they want to win the league. Their only defeat in the league was a narrow 16-10 loss at Larne but they returned to winning ways by defeating Letterkenny 15-10 last Saturday. Expect this game to be physically competitive, with the hosts the likely winners. LARNE v PSNI Laurence Kelly's side continue to impress after their early season league defeat to Holywood. Hard earned wins over Donegal and Newry have galvanised the side in their push for league honours. PSNI have disappointed this season and are struggling to avoid relegation. Expect a convincing Larne win. LETTERKENNY v NEWRY Interesting game between two sides who have improved and will prove difficult opposition for any sides in this league. Letterkenny pushed Donegal all the way before losing narrowly last Saturday. Letterkenny have a proud home record this season but don't be surprised if Newry pull of a result as they have the talent within their squad.
KUKRI QUALIFYING 4 BHSFP v CAVAN The Greenisland side recorded a 6-36 win at Armoy in their last outing, scoring six tries in the process. Cavan lost 6-16 at home to league leaders Ophir in a keenly contested game last Saturday. Both sides are evenly matched so home advantage should see a High School win.