Ballynahinch v Clontarf, Saturday, 4.30pm
First Trust Cup winners Ballynahinch welcome Leinster Cup winners Clontarf to Ballymacarn Park for the semi final of the All Ireland Bateman Cup. With the club celebrating its 60th anniversary this season, there is a great desire amongst the players and coaching staff to secure All Ireland silverware. Many will remember with pride the achievement of Ballynahinch 1st XV in winning a dramatic AIB Cup Final in 2009 against favourites Cork Constitution in Athlone. Current player Michael Graham had the honour of scoring the opening try. Coaches Derek Suffern and Charlie McAleese will want to protect the team’s undefeated home record this season. Both these teams have already met in the Ulster Bank League at Castle Avenue in November when Clontarf ran out comfortable 27 -16 winners. They are due to meet again at Ballymacarn Park in the return fixture on 11th April. With a 4.30pm kick off to accommodate the Scotland v Ireland game, hopefully hundreds of supporters will make the effort to get along and support the ‘Hinch team.
ULSTER SENIOR LEAGUE
Armagh v Dungannon, Friday, 7.45pm
Banbridge v Queen’s University, Friday, 7.45pm
Malone v Rainey, Friday, 7.45pm
Ballymena v Belfast Harlequins, Saturday, 1.00pm
KUKRI QUALIFYING LEAGUE
This weekend we will see the final matches in this league. Instonians were crowned league champions after their 19-13 win at Dromore. Both Clogher Valley and Bangor have qualified for the All Ireland Junior Cup. Dromore are favourites to claim fourth place with Ballyclare and Portadown battling it out for fifth place. If Instonians come through the round robin and the playoff to return to the AIL then the fifth place team will qualify for the AIL Junior Cup. Instonians will play Leinster champions Dundalk in the first of their round robin matches at home on 28th March. This will be followed by a trip away to Connacht champions Connemara on 11th April with the final match at home to Munster champions Clonmel on 18th April. The winners of the round robin will then play the team that finishes third bottom in Div 2B away to play in the AIL next season.
Ballymoney (10th) v Donaghadee (9th)
This bottom of the table clash at Kilraughts Road is a 'dead rubber' for both teams as the outcome will not change their league positions. Donaghadee will have to wait to see whether Instonians return to playing in the AIL before knowing whether they will be playing in Q1 or Q2 next season. With ‘Dee Paul McKenzie stepping down as Player/Coach, club officials are searching for a replacement for next season. When these sides met at Donaldson Park in December, Ballymoney were comfortable 24-7 winners.
CIYMS (8th) v Dromore (4th)
Despite injuries and unavailabilities CI coach Gareth Fry was able to don his boots to guide his side to an unexpected 25-24 win at Barban Hill last Saturday. This defeat means Dromore still need one point from the return fixture at Belmont on Saturday to secure a place in the AIL Junior Cup. Former CI coach Graham Cloke was disappointed his team could not complete the job last Saturday. Second row forward Mark Scott was the stand out player for CI at Dromore. Along with Mark McConkey and Neil Wallace they scored crucial tries for their team. CI will have Captain Gavin Woods returning to the front row after injury. His front row colleagues Stuart Ferguson and Elliott Boyd are ruled out through injury along with centre Jordan Boyd. Half back Sam Baker faces a late fitness test on a hand injury. The home side won 24-20, but have had four league points deducted for not providing front row cover in this match. It will be a tense occasion this weekend with the CI team looking to do the double over their former coach and Dromore seeking that all important point.
Clogher Valley (2nd) v Instonians (1st)
Two weeks ago we thought this was going to be the league decider. A 26-26 draw at Ballyclare denied Clogher Valley an opportunity to retain their league title at the Cran against league leaders Instonians. The focus for the league champions Instonians this weekend is the opening round robin match on Saturday week. This has been reflected in the team selection made by Head coach William Leacock with several key players rested for this game. Clogher start with the team that recovered from a 17-3 deficit at Ballymena to win 24-17 and secure their fifth Towns Cup final place in six seasons. A remarkable achievement by this team with several key players unavailable through injury. When these two sides met in the corresponding fixture at Shaw’s Bridge, Instonians staged a comeback to win 19-17.
Cooke (7th) v Bangor (3rd)
This match at Shaw’s Bridge has the potential to be a high scoring game with two talented backlines opposing each other. Bangor are reeling from the four point deduction imposed on them by the CMC for not providing front row cover in their 24-20 win over CIYMS. With their place secured in the AIL Junior Cup, this Bangor team will look to complete the double over their opponents after defeating them 29-20 before Christmas at Upritchard Park. Bangor welcome back prop James Leary and scrumhalf Ricky Armstrong from injury. Cooke player/coach Colin Atkinson has been delighted with the strong showing by his side since the turn of the New Year. They have moved clear of relegation and qualified for the final of the McCrea Cup after a hard earned 20-10 win at Academy last Saturday. He welcomes back Kyle Mitchell and Liam Bennett after injury. Spectators should enjoy watching the Bangor backs Chris Morgan, Mark Widdowson, Davey Charles and Mike Weir up against their Cooke opponents Andy Pollock, Alex Gourlay, Philip Cartmill and Kyle Mitchell. Cooke winger Andy Pollock has kept up his amazing try scoring record, with nine touch downs in his last five matches.
Portadown (6th) v Ballyclare (5th)
Two points separate Ballyclare in fifth and Portadown in sixth place. Both have an outside chance of making the AIL Junior Cup by finishing in fifth place. Portadown coach Richard Hedley was disappointed by his side’s, 28-15 defeat at home to Cooke in their last outing. Long serving French centre Ollie Montels has announced his retirement from the game. He first arrived at Portadown as a 24 year old graduate with the intention of staying for one or two years and has ended up staying for nine years and is now settled in Northern Ireland. Josh Matchett will replace the French centre for Saturday's match. Ballyclare have bounced back from their losing run to remain undefeated after three games. Their stand out player has been their outhalf Robert Smith who scored 21 points in their 26-26 draw at home to Clogher Valley. A fifth place finish will please their coach Chris Campbell after the team secured promotion from Q2 last season. When these two sides met in December at the Cloughan, Ballyclare were 18-12 winners.
KUKRI QUALIFYING LEAGUE 2
Academy (4th) v Carrickfergus (2nd)
The ambition for Academy coach Gareth Lynn is to see his team finish in the top four. His players were disappointed to lose their McCrea Cup semi final at home to Cooke. This Antrim derby will add spice to the meeting of these two teams at Roughfort this weekend. Academy are missing Kyle Dobbin, William Martin and Jordan Buchannon with injuries picked up against Cooke. Coach Gareth Lynn is expecting a competitive game with his strong pack up against a powerful Carrick forward unit. In their last three league matches Carrick have scored 146 points and conceded just 3 - scoring 24 tries in the process. Carrick are at full strength and will look to complete the double over their neighbours after defeating them 29-11 at the Tom Simms Memorial Park in November.
Enniskillen (6th) v Randalstown (5th)
Skins maintained their push for a top four placing with a hard earned 14-10 win at Lisburn on Wednesday night. Having won their last three league games, Enniskillen will face stiff opposition at Mullaghmeen this weekend against Randalstown, hoping to make it three wins in eight days. Head coach Norman Richmond is looking a strong finish from his players as they build for next season with the objective to follow their neighbours Omagh into Q1. Randalstown are a progressive club looking to build on their progress this season. With their 2nds having won their league and made it through to the Forster Cup final, this club has ambitions to strengthen their playing squad and push for promotion next season. Will be an interesting meeting between these two sides who are building for the future. These two teams have already met twice this season. Randalstown winning their league meeting at Nelisbrook in September 23-8. They were drawn together in the opening round of the Towns Cup at Mullaghmeen with Skins winning 32-8.
Grosvenor (7th) v UUC (10th)
If the students have any ambitions of avoiding relegation again this season. They have to win this match. Grosvenor need a win to avoid being dragged into the bottom two. Sure to be a tension filled occasion at Belmont this weekend. Grosvenor have lost their last seven league matches while the students have only secured two draws so far with no wins in this league. When these two sides met at the Riverside in December Grosvenor won 12-7.
Omagh (1st) v Coleraine (3rd)
Coach Phil Marshall and Captain Mark Smyth have set the players a target of ten points from their remaining four matches to win the league and secure promotion. With three matches in eight days coming up against Coleraine, UUC and Randalstown the league title could be theirs sooner if Carrick slip up at Academy on Saturday. They welcome back out half Lee Murphy and full back Ali Beckett for a match with a Coleraine side who defeated them 21-19 at Rugby Road in January. Coleraine are a squad building to challenge for promotion next season. They have won their last four league games and will be looking to finish their season on a high. They are in third place and are looking to stay there. Expect a large crowd for this much anticipated game at the Thomas Mellon playing fields.
GORDON WEST CUP SEMI FINALS
Larne v Letterkenny
Limavady v Monaghan
KUKRI QUALIFYING LEAGUE 3
Ophir v Donegal Town