Preview the much-anticipated Powerade Towns Cup semi final games which take place this weekend, along with one game in AIL 2B, SONI Champions League fixtures and Kukri Qualifying League One and Three...
ULSTER BANK ALL IRELAND LEAGUE
Division 2B
Highfield v Rainey OB (kick off 12 noon)
There is a nervousness at Hatrick Park after Rainey suffered a surprising 36 - 9 defeat last Saturday to Dublin visitors Bective Rangers. The result has dragged the Magherfelt side into a relegation battle with Bective to avoid finishing in ninth place and a playoff to remain in Division 2B next season. The task Head Coach John Andrew's and his players face is difficult with his team facing their third trip to Cork this season after their away game against Highfield was postponed. With the rearranging of these games, Rainey are returning to Cork two weeks after losing 17 - 3 to Sundays Well. Points are crucial with the bottom four sides playing each other in rearranged games on Saturday 19th March. Dungannon host Rainey OB with Bective Rangers playing tenth placed Seapoint who are already relegated. If Bective win their match and Rainey lose their next two AIL games, they will face a struggle to retain their Division 2B status.
SONI ULSTER CHAMPIONSHIP LEAGUE
Section One
Armagh v City of Derry
Ballynahinch v Malone
Ballymena N/M
Section Two
Banbridge v Rainey OB
Dungannon v Belfast Harlequins
Queen’s University N/M
POWERADE TOWNS CUP SEMI FINALS
Bangor v Omagh
Head Coach Jason Morgan knows his players face three crucial fixtures in eight days starting with Omagh at Upritchard Park on Saturday. This is followed by Cooke on Tuesday night and a trip next weekend to play Clogher Valley at the Cran. He is ensuring his players don't look too far ahead and are firmly focused on Omagh and the challenges they will bring this Saturday.
He is aware Omagh will be up for this semi final clash. He has great respect for their coaches Philip Marshall and Ashley Blair, who he has no doubt will have done their homework on Bangor and will believe they are capable of turning over the seaside outfit.
His team and players have a lot of confidence in themselves and know what it takes to win week in, week out with the players very hard on themselves in the standards they set. The players have done their planning and know where they want to target Omagh, their intensions will be to exploit their weaknesses.
This week, the coach welcomes back Ulster and Irish schools’ hooker Connor McEvoy and Methody and Ulster U19 outhalf Gareth Millar to his starting XV. Ulster Junior Mike Apsley has shown his versatility by fitting in either at 12 or 6 and is playing the best rugby of his career. Fellow Ulster Junior Mikey Weir has moved from centre to 6 and has been the team’s best player on the pitch over the last month.
Michael Ferguson has found another level of fitness and form and is really enjoying his rugby and looked more like a centre last week with his line breaking and ball skills than a prop forward. Captain Jamie Clegg and David Bradford keep setting the standards in defence by putting their bodies on the line in every tackle they make. His unsung heroes this season are forwards Craig Burton and Darren Kelly. These young men are just an absolute dream for a coach to work with through their leadership skills and work rate, which doesn't seem to stop. He is confident that the players will give this game their best shot.
Omagh Head Coach Phil Marshall knows his team face a difficult fixture at Bangor. This game is probably the hardest in junior rugby right now, however even with injured and unavailable players this week, Marshall genuinely believes his team can cause an upset this weekend. In recent weeks he has been trying different combinations up front in the forwards. He believes his squad are the stronger for these experiments. If his forwards can achieve parity up-front, then his team have a good chance to win.
Clogher Valley v Enniskillen
Coaches Glen Kyle and Davy Black have made several changes due to the unavailability of Richard Primrose and Clive Donaldson. They welcome back Barry Jon Wilson and Rodney Bennett into the match day squad with outhalf Philip Holme successfully coming through his comeback game at CIYMS with wingers Keith Todd and Andy Breen putting in an outstanding defensive effort in the 19 - 7 win. Nathan Orr retains his place in the backrow alongside Ryan Wilson and Captain David Sharkey with Michael Treanor and Eugene McKenna reunited in a powerful second row partnership. With five replacements allowed, Clogher are able to include Ronan McAleer, Mark McKenna, Barry Jon Wilson, Neil Trotter and Rodney Bennett amongst a bench that will have a significant impact on the outcome of this game.
For Enniskillen Head Coach Norman Richmond who also occupies the role of Club President this season. This is one of the biggest weekends the club has experienced since making the semi finals of the Junior Cup last season before losing out to winners Instonians with the club second XV reaching the semi finals of the Forster Cup where they play Dromore seconds.
The coach is looking for an 80-minute performance from his team this weekend. He agrees Clogher Valley are a well seasoned and experienced team with a strong record in the Towns Cup. His players face a formidable task at the Cran this weekend. Their aim is to win and make the final at Kingspan Stadium on Easter Monday. His team have embarked on a fantastic unbeaten run since mid December with the coaches and the players hoping to keep the momentum going. The coach has great faith in his players and believes they have the talent and ability to move to the next level. Whoever wins this match deserves to go forward to the final as it is a testament to the players and rugby in Counties Fermanagh and Tyrone.
His team remains relatively unchanged from last weekend. Both Stevie Welsh and Stevie Neill are unavailable with Ricky Lee replacing Michael Cadden and Mark O'Shea returning to the backline.
MCCREA CUP SEMI FINALS
Cooke v Queen’s University 2nd XV
Academy v Malone 2nd XV
KUKRI QUALIFYING LEAGUE
Q1
Portadown v Instonians
The Chambers Park side were favourites to finish in the top four and qualify for the All Ireland Junior Cup. Two successive defeats against Bangor and Cooke have set back their ambitions as the team have slipped down to 6th place with four games remaining. Their task does not get any easier with games coming up against Instonians home and away, Clogher Valley and Ballyclare. Head Coach Richard Hedley will be looking for a response from his players who held Bangor to a 7-all draw at half time, only to ship a further forty points in a one sided second half at Upritchard Park. The coach felt that his team were better than their previous performance at Cooke. However, they came up against a very good Bangor side. Selection has been difficult over the last few weeks with late changes being made to the team. Portadown welcome back Mal Allister, Rodney Blair and Ryan Purvis to the squad this week with both Danny Alexander and Jack Orr unavailable.
Bangor v Cooke (Tuesday 15th March, kick off 8pm)
Head Coach Jason Morgan is aware his Bangor team face a three-day turnaround after they play Omagh, which is both physically and mentally demanding. Cooke are a team that has come into form and he is aware they have players including Alex Gourlay, Phil Cartmill and Andrew Pollock along with pack leaders like Toby Mannus so they have quality across the board. His players will respect Cooke and know the challenge they present.
Cooke Head Coach Colin Atkinson was delighted with his teams 15 - 7 win at Ballyclare last Saturday. Like Bangor they face three matches in eight days starting with a semi final against McCrea Cup holders Queen’s University 2nds on Saturday followed by Bangor on Tuesday night and a Shaw’s Bridge derby with neighbours, Instonians the weekend after. The return of flying winger Andy Pollock has been welcomed after injury with the player scoring two tries last weekend. There is a real buzz in the club that this Cooke squad can make the All Ireland Junior Cup next season.
Q3
Civil Service v UUC
Newry v Letterkenny
ULSTER BANK ALL IRELAND LEAGUE
Division 2B
Highfield v Rainey OB (kick off 12 noon)
There is a nervousness at Hatrick Park after Rainey suffered a surprising 36 - 9 defeat last Saturday to Dublin visitors Bective Rangers. The result has dragged the Magherfelt side into a relegation battle with Bective to avoid finishing in ninth place and a playoff to remain in Division 2B next season. The task Head Coach John Andrew's and his players face is difficult with his team facing their third trip to Cork this season after their away game against Highfield was postponed. With the rearranging of these games, Rainey are returning to Cork two weeks after losing 17 - 3 to Sundays Well. Points are crucial with the bottom four sides playing each other in rearranged games on Saturday 19th March. Dungannon host Rainey OB with Bective Rangers playing tenth placed Seapoint who are already relegated. If Bective win their match and Rainey lose their next two AIL games, they will face a struggle to retain their Division 2B status.
SONI ULSTER CHAMPIONSHIP LEAGUE
Section One
Armagh v City of Derry
Ballynahinch v Malone
Ballymena N/M
Section Two
Banbridge v Rainey OB
Dungannon v Belfast Harlequins
Queen’s University N/M
POWERADE TOWNS CUP SEMI FINALS
Bangor v Omagh
Head Coach Jason Morgan knows his players face three crucial fixtures in eight days starting with Omagh at Upritchard Park on Saturday. This is followed by Cooke on Tuesday night and a trip next weekend to play Clogher Valley at the Cran. He is ensuring his players don't look too far ahead and are firmly focused on Omagh and the challenges they will bring this Saturday.
He is aware Omagh will be up for this semi final clash. He has great respect for their coaches Philip Marshall and Ashley Blair, who he has no doubt will have done their homework on Bangor and will believe they are capable of turning over the seaside outfit.
His team and players have a lot of confidence in themselves and know what it takes to win week in, week out with the players very hard on themselves in the standards they set. The players have done their planning and know where they want to target Omagh, their intensions will be to exploit their weaknesses.
This week, the coach welcomes back Ulster and Irish schools’ hooker Connor McEvoy and Methody and Ulster U19 outhalf Gareth Millar to his starting XV. Ulster Junior Mike Apsley has shown his versatility by fitting in either at 12 or 6 and is playing the best rugby of his career. Fellow Ulster Junior Mikey Weir has moved from centre to 6 and has been the team’s best player on the pitch over the last month.
Michael Ferguson has found another level of fitness and form and is really enjoying his rugby and looked more like a centre last week with his line breaking and ball skills than a prop forward. Captain Jamie Clegg and David Bradford keep setting the standards in defence by putting their bodies on the line in every tackle they make. His unsung heroes this season are forwards Craig Burton and Darren Kelly. These young men are just an absolute dream for a coach to work with through their leadership skills and work rate, which doesn't seem to stop. He is confident that the players will give this game their best shot.
Omagh Head Coach Phil Marshall knows his team face a difficult fixture at Bangor. This game is probably the hardest in junior rugby right now, however even with injured and unavailable players this week, Marshall genuinely believes his team can cause an upset this weekend. In recent weeks he has been trying different combinations up front in the forwards. He believes his squad are the stronger for these experiments. If his forwards can achieve parity up-front, then his team have a good chance to win.
Clogher Valley v Enniskillen
Coaches Glen Kyle and Davy Black have made several changes due to the unavailability of Richard Primrose and Clive Donaldson. They welcome back Barry Jon Wilson and Rodney Bennett into the match day squad with outhalf Philip Holme successfully coming through his comeback game at CIYMS with wingers Keith Todd and Andy Breen putting in an outstanding defensive effort in the 19 - 7 win. Nathan Orr retains his place in the backrow alongside Ryan Wilson and Captain David Sharkey with Michael Treanor and Eugene McKenna reunited in a powerful second row partnership. With five replacements allowed, Clogher are able to include Ronan McAleer, Mark McKenna, Barry Jon Wilson, Neil Trotter and Rodney Bennett amongst a bench that will have a significant impact on the outcome of this game.
For Enniskillen Head Coach Norman Richmond who also occupies the role of Club President this season. This is one of the biggest weekends the club has experienced since making the semi finals of the Junior Cup last season before losing out to winners Instonians with the club second XV reaching the semi finals of the Forster Cup where they play Dromore seconds.
The coach is looking for an 80-minute performance from his team this weekend. He agrees Clogher Valley are a well seasoned and experienced team with a strong record in the Towns Cup. His players face a formidable task at the Cran this weekend. Their aim is to win and make the final at Kingspan Stadium on Easter Monday. His team have embarked on a fantastic unbeaten run since mid December with the coaches and the players hoping to keep the momentum going. The coach has great faith in his players and believes they have the talent and ability to move to the next level. Whoever wins this match deserves to go forward to the final as it is a testament to the players and rugby in Counties Fermanagh and Tyrone.
His team remains relatively unchanged from last weekend. Both Stevie Welsh and Stevie Neill are unavailable with Ricky Lee replacing Michael Cadden and Mark O'Shea returning to the backline.
MCCREA CUP SEMI FINALS
Cooke v Queen’s University 2nd XV
Academy v Malone 2nd XV
KUKRI QUALIFYING LEAGUE
Q1
Portadown v Instonians
The Chambers Park side were favourites to finish in the top four and qualify for the All Ireland Junior Cup. Two successive defeats against Bangor and Cooke have set back their ambitions as the team have slipped down to 6th place with four games remaining. Their task does not get any easier with games coming up against Instonians home and away, Clogher Valley and Ballyclare. Head Coach Richard Hedley will be looking for a response from his players who held Bangor to a 7-all draw at half time, only to ship a further forty points in a one sided second half at Upritchard Park. The coach felt that his team were better than their previous performance at Cooke. However, they came up against a very good Bangor side. Selection has been difficult over the last few weeks with late changes being made to the team. Portadown welcome back Mal Allister, Rodney Blair and Ryan Purvis to the squad this week with both Danny Alexander and Jack Orr unavailable.
Bangor v Cooke (Tuesday 15th March, kick off 8pm)
Head Coach Jason Morgan is aware his Bangor team face a three-day turnaround after they play Omagh, which is both physically and mentally demanding. Cooke are a team that has come into form and he is aware they have players including Alex Gourlay, Phil Cartmill and Andrew Pollock along with pack leaders like Toby Mannus so they have quality across the board. His players will respect Cooke and know the challenge they present.
Cooke Head Coach Colin Atkinson was delighted with his teams 15 - 7 win at Ballyclare last Saturday. Like Bangor they face three matches in eight days starting with a semi final against McCrea Cup holders Queen’s University 2nds on Saturday followed by Bangor on Tuesday night and a Shaw’s Bridge derby with neighbours, Instonians the weekend after. The return of flying winger Andy Pollock has been welcomed after injury with the player scoring two tries last weekend. There is a real buzz in the club that this Cooke squad can make the All Ireland Junior Cup next season.
Q3
Civil Service v UUC
Newry v Letterkenny