A preview of Saturday's club rugby action...
With the All Ireland league clubs taking a well earned break the focus for the Domestic followers in Ulster is on one rearranged game in the SONI Ulster Rugby Premiership involving Rainey OB and Malone at Hatrick Park and league programmes in Division 1, 2 and 3 of the Kukri Ulster Rugby Championship. Such is the competition in these three divisions that in Division 1 we have 4 points separating the top 5 sides Portadown, Instonians, Omagh, Ballyclare and Enniskillen with Instonians meeting league leaders Portadown at Shaw’s Bridge and Enniskillen playing Ballyclare at Mullaghmeen this weekend. In the bottom half of this Division we have three teams Cooke, Carrickfergus and Dromore sitting on 14 points with 9th place Clogher Valley on 10 points. Ards remain in 10th place without a win. Both Carrick and Cooke meet at the Tom Simms Memorial Park on Sat.
In Division 2, we have four teams CIYMS, Limavady, Coleraine and Academy separated by one point with Grosvenor a further five points behind the leaders. Two of these teams CIYMS and Coleraine meet at Belmont in East Belfast in a game that is expected to attract one of the biggest crowds to this venue in recent seasons. In the bottom half of this league, Lisburn secured their first league win in defeating fellow strugglers UUC 31 - 0 at the Blaris last week. 10th place Donaghadee remain without a win and entertain Lisburn at Donaldson Park this week.
In Division 3, Ballymoney remain undefeated after 11 games and are being closely pursued by the PSNI and Lurgan to finish in the top two.
Clogher Valley missed out on making the Final of the Ulster Bank All Ireland Junior Cup after going down 20 - 19 in a fiercely contested game at Ashbourne last week. Ashbourne will play current holders Enniscorthy in an all Leinster Final on the 28th January.
Congratulations must go to Ballynahinch 2nds on their 17 - 3 win over Omagh in the Final of the Millar McCall Wylie Junior Cup at Kingspan Stadium on Tuesday night and also the 1st XV who beat Dungannon in the First Trust Senior Cup on Thursday.
SONI ULSTER RUGBY PREMIERSHIP DIVISION 2
// Rainey OB v Malone
Head Coach John Andrews is resting several of his Rainey squad this week with Tommy O'Hagan and John McCusker involved with the Ulster A squad in their British and Irish Cup match away to Cardiff this weekend. Other notables missing will be second row Tim Barker and scrumhalf Michael Wilson.
The coach is giving 1st XV starts to former youth props Aiden McSwiggan and Fintan Quinn with a fourth, Philip McCusker, joining his brothers Ronan and Michael in the Rainey pack. Which will see all four McCusker brothers in the Rainey 1st XV pack. Philip McCusker is described by John Andrew's as a big powerful runner with the ball in hand. He has come through the clubs Youth setup and has made the transition from Gaelic over the summer and the first half of the season to making his debut for the 1st XV this weekend.
Malone Head Coach Paddy Armstrong like his Rainey counterpart is using the opportunity this week to rest players and give several of his fringe players the opportunity to play for the 1st XV. Both Peter Ireland and Josh Davidson come into the second row with Max Porter starting in the back row. Injury rules out Mark O'Connor who has found his form again at Malone this season with former Sullivan scrumhalf Callum Jeffrey coming on to the bench.
KUKRI ULSTER RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION 1
// Carrickfergus v Cooke
A massive game for both sides at the Tom Simms Memorial Park this week. Like Dromore these three teams are aware of the pressure Clogher Valley are applying as they seek to avoid finishing in 9th place and the play offs. Carrick coaches Davy Scott and Michael Rainey are fully aware of how competitive this league is after securing promotion. Narrow home defeats to Omagh 14 - 13 and Instonians 10 - 3 show how valuable every league point is in the fight to stay in Division 1. With back to back games coming up against inform neighbours, Ballyclare on Boxing Day and the 7th January both the coaches and the players will have little or no time to relax. Any complacency by coaches and players in this league will see teams caught up in a relegation battle.
Cooke, under Head Coach Colin Atkinson may have a small playing squad, but they have shown in their games against Ballyclare, lost 23 - 18 and an impressive 24 - 9 win over newly promoted Enniskillen they will be no pushovers. The coach was forced to play scrumhalf Matty Elliott in the back row against Enniskillen with the player turning in an outstanding performance. Captain Toby Mannus has been an inspirational leader on the pitch this season. Once again the Gourley brothers have been key points contributors for Cooke. Alan kicking 4 x pens and 1 x con with Alex scoring a try along with winger Jonathan Backus against Enniskillen. The coach is aware there are no easy games in this division. He will finalise his squad for Carrick after training on Thursday night. Injury rules out Curtis Montgomery with Scott McClelland taking his place.
// Dromore v Omagh
Interesting game this one, for Dromore Head Coach Jonny Cullen it has been an up and down season as the coach tries to build consistency into his team’s performances. Back to back defeats against Ballyclare 32 - 7 and Clogher Valley 3 - 0 has added to the pressure on the coaches and players.
How will the Omagh coaches Philip Marshall, Ashley Blair and their players respond to their poor performance in their 17 - 3 defeat to Ballynahinch seconds in the Junior Cup Final on Tuesday night? Dromore are in urgent need of league points and the Omagh players will have to pick themselves up if they want to maintain their challenge for league honours.
Omagh Head Coach Philip Marshall was gutted by the performance of his team on Tuesday night in the Junior Cup Final. The squad had prepared really well and froze in the first half. He was bitterly disappointed by the performance. As he said you don't mind losing if you have played your 'A' game but that performance was far from it.
The coach is looking for a reaction from his players at Dromore this Saturday. Injury rules out second row Jamie Sproule and full back Alastair Beckett from Tuesday night with a lot of tired bodies in the squad from their efforts. Both Mervyn Edgar and Lee Murphy come in as their replacements.
He is looking nothing less than a win if the team are to maintain their momentum in the league.
// Enniskillen v Ballyclare
Two teams with the ambition to win Division 1 this season… Enniskillen had their title hopes seriously dented when their much vaunted pack were outplayed in their surprise 24 - 9 defeat at Cooke. That makes it two losses in a row after losing at home to Ballynahinch seconds in the Conference league. Head Coach Willy Balfour and his players will not want to make it three defeats in a row. Mullaghmeen is never an easy venue for any visiting team. With a large crowd in attendance the Ballyclare side will have to be at their best to pick up the league points.
The Skins coach is looking forward to the next few weeks as his players get used to playing rugby every week after a lengthy break where they only played two matches. With back to back games coming up with Ballyclare and Omagh we will see whether this Enniskillen squad have the heart and desire to push for league honours.
For this week the coach welcomes back Ryan Cathcart at hooker and Patrick McCleery at scrumhalf.
Ballyclare have been the form team in recent weeks picking up wins against Cooke 23 - 18 and Dromore 32 - 7. They face neighbours Carrick in back to back games and a return visit by Enniskillen to the Cloughan.
Head Coach Mike McKeever has been delighted by the response of his players in achieving the goals they set for themselves this season. Dromore gave his team a very challenging game. They are no easy side to play against. In D1 every team is capable of beating each other on the day. In this league the coach is expecting there to be a close finish this season for the top five places.
The team have a realistic new target for the next three games that they will aim to go for. He acknowledges Enniskillen are having a very good season and he is looking forward to the game with them at the weekend.
Selection this week will see Robert Smith coming into contention after returning from injury. Both Robert Boyd and Michael Rainey are added to the pack.
The coach would like to say a big well done and congratulations to all involved in coaching and supporting the 'Clare Hares'. He was fortunate to get to observe and provide a helping hand on Friday night to the team. It was fantastic to see the rugby that was on offer to this group. Superb stuff and well done to all involved. The team are now on their Winter break.
// Instonians v Portadown
Pre-season title favourites, Instonians may have slipped off the radar following a difficult period where they exited the All Ireland Junior Cup and the Millar McCall Wylie Junior Cup. They have shown their resolve by winning a tight game at Carrick two weeks ago 10 - 3 to place them 2nd in D1, four points behind league leaders Portadown. Inst coaches William Leacock and Mark McDowell have back to back games coming up with Portadown and neighbours Cooke that will tell us alot about the title ambitions of this young Inst squad. The return of the Whitten brothers Robert and Alan along with Ryan McCurry at Carrick had a big impact in their 10 - 3 win. With any one of five teams challenging for the league this season we have the most open contest for the league title in recent years. This weekend Instonians welcome back influential centre Davy Scott to a team that is getting stronger by the week. As Director of Rugby William Leacock acknowledges D1 is a tight league this season.
Portadown Head Coach Richard Hedley and his assistant Ciaran O'Kane have the task to lift their playing squad after watching their team eliminated from the AIL Junior Cup and the heavy 45 - 10 semi final defeat in the Junor Cup at Ballynahinch. This was followed up by a 17 -14 home defeat to Clogher Valley in the league two weeks ago. Portadown can still resurrect their season against a team they defeated 25 - 17 in the Junior Cup on the 5th November. Their last win was a 40 - 7 win over struggling Ards at Chambers Park four weeks ago.
The Portadown coach is expecting another tough game away this week. He agrees his team have been struggling with the number of matches they played during October and November. He welcomed the break last Saturday for the players and hopes it will have a positive impact this week. Injury rules out Lee Bicker and Ryan Calvert with both being replaced by Danny Alexander and Niall Davison.
FIXTURES
Carrickfergus (7) v Cooke (6)
Dromore (8) v Omagh (3)
Enniskillen (5) v Ballyclare (4)
Instonians (2) v Portadown (1)
KUKRI ULSTER RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION 1
// Carrickfergus v Ballyclare. Play Monday 26.12.16. Kick off 2.30pm
KUKRI ULSTER RUGBY CONFERENCE DIVISION 1
// Clogher Valley v Ballymena 2nds
There was disappointment for the Clogher Valley team and supporters when they came up just short against Ashbourne in the All Ireland Junior Cup semi final last week. The focus for coaches Glen Kyle and Davy Black is keeping this proud club in D1 this season. Results in recent weeks have shown that the team and players will fight for every league point. This weekend the coaches will be without the injured Michael Treanor, Nathan Orr, David Sharkey and Philip Moore with both Matty Robinson and Clive Donaldson unavailable. Toby McAlpine, Neil Henderson, Matthew Keyes, Ian Mulligan and Mills are expected to be included in the starting lineup.
FIXTURES
Ards (12) v Ballynahinch 2nds (1)
Clogher Valley (11) v Ballymena seconds (10)
KUKRI RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION 2
// Academy v Randalstown
We all thought it was a two horse race in Division 2 between CIYMS and Coleraine. The performances of Academy and Limavady have now turned the promotion chase into a race involving four teams. Academy Head Coach Gareth Lynn knows his players have to step up to another level if they are to challenge CI and Coleraine. The work put in on the training paddock over Xmas and the New Year will determine the ambition of the team. As the Head Coach points out every game at the minute is a difficult one. His players had turn around a deficit at Larne last week to win 42 - 27.
For the game this week the coach has to make a few changes. Out half Jordan Buchanan is unavailable with New Zealand centre Tate Harte returning home after his gap year. Injury rules out second row Clarke Cooper. The coach is confident he has the depth in the squad to replace him. He is hoping to add number 8 Stewart Martin and Stuart Henderson to the second row to give more physicality. He and the players are not thinking about a top two finish. It is all about winning the next game on Saturday. The goal is to finish the first half of the season having only lost to CI and Coleraine. As the coach puts it, it is the old cliche of taking one game at a time and not thinking too far ahead of ourselves.
Randalstown came up just short against Limavady losing 28 - 24 at Nelisbrook last Saturday. The North West side had built up an early 28 - 0 with Randalstown fighting back and forcing Limavady to hang on for the win. Having lost their last two league games against CI and Limavady they now travel to play an inform Academy side that have joined the promotion race. Randalstown Head Coach Gary Longwell and his young squad were expected to be involved in the top four this season. Results have not favoured them in narrow losses. Can they upset the form book at Roughfort this weekend.
// CIYMS v Coleraine
This is the game everyone is talking about. With Instonians playing Portadown at Shaw’s Bridge for many neutral supporters the place to be in Belfast on Saturday will be Belmont in East Belfast. Why such interest in this match. You have two young and exciting coaches in Gareth Fry of CIYMS and Richard Boyd at Coleraine with two talented playing squads at their disposal. Early season focus was all on the role former Ulster player James McKinney would have in directing CI's promotion challenge. His recent departure to Jersey in the championship has left a void in the team. Another pre-season addition at CI went slightly under the radar. It was the inclusion of former Gloucester player Callum Irvine to their backline. He hasn't failed to disappoint and has become a key player in the CI backline. When CI lost their talented scrumhalf Cameron Stewart to injury there were concerns who would replace him and McKinney. In stepped Cameron Jinks from Coleraine and former Regent House scrum half/Out half Alan Sinnamon to solve the mini crisis.
CI Head Coach Gareth Fry is looking forward to the meeting with Coleraine. He was disappointed his side lost 40 - 12 to a strong Armagh seconds team at the Palace grounds last weekend. He is looking an immediate response from his players this week. He agrees Coleraine are a very strong team from 1 - 15. He will be looking his players to match the physicality of the North coast side. Coleraine have recruited well over the summer and he describes it as hard to see any team live with them over the course of the season. He is expecting a big crowd at Belmont with everybody looking forward to the match.
The squad is on similar lines to recent games with the coach hoping a few players carrying knocks will come through. Key second row forward David Cobain is away on holidays in Australia. As the coach said it is difficult to control the availability of players in the amateur game.
Coleraine Head Coach Richard Boyd and his players are looking forward to the match on Saturday. The team bounced back well from their narrow Junior Cup semi final defeat at Omagh two weeks ago to defeat a strengthened Malone seconds team 27 - 7 in the Conference league last week. On this occasion the coach was able to rotate the squad and rest a number of regular players to keep them fresh and give some of the younger players an opportunity to play on the 1st XV. He was pleased how the young team stepped up against Malone and worked hard to secure the bonus point on the road.
For the match at CIYMS this week. Coleraine are pretty much at full strength with Kyle McAuley ruled out after picking up a concussion injury at Malone. Chris Nash, Michael Ferguson, Roger Bonnar, Stephen Dickey, Brian Hughes, Rhys McAuley and Niall Irwin all return to the starting line up from the side that played at Malone.
He knows CIYMS are a very big and physical side and will fancy themselves at home to win this match. He also knows his players will have to be at their best to match CIYMS at the set piece and contain their fast backline who like to move the ball. This is one of the biggest games in the province this weekend and it is a real testament to the hard work put in by both clubs over the past few months. His Coleraine team have played some excellent rugby this year and the players have shown a great attitude and spirit at training. They will be well prepared and travel with confidence and be ready for the challenge that awaits them at Belmont this weekend.
// Donaghadee v Lisburn
Dee suffered a 70 - 0 defeat at Grosvenor last Saturday. You have to admire coaches Paul Blewitt and Chris Good for the work they are putting in at training and their efforts to fulfil their fixtures this season.
Lisburn under new Head Coach Andy Postlethwaite put in a convincing performance to secure a bonus point win against UUC 31 - 0 last weekend. On paper you would expect Lisburn to pick up the maximum five points this week.
With both Lisburn and UUC sitting on five points there is a real opportunity for Donaghadee to salvage something from their season with a win this weekend.
FIXTURES
Academy (4) v Randalstown (7)
CIYMS (1) v Coleraine (3)
Donaghadee (10) v Lisburn (9)
KUKRI ULSTER RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP/CONFERENCE DIVISION 2
Armagh seconds (4) v Grosvenor (6)
Larne (7) v Banbridge seconds (8)
Limavady (3) v Malone seconds (9)
UUC (12) v Belfast Harlequins seconds (14)
KUKRI ULSTER RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION 3
BHSFP (8) v Monaghan (11)
Letterkenny (9) v Newry (6)
Lurgan (3) v Holywood (5)
PSNI (2) v Cavan (10)
Strabane (4) v Ophir (12)
Virginia (7) v Ballymoney (11)
With the All Ireland league clubs taking a well earned break the focus for the Domestic followers in Ulster is on one rearranged game in the SONI Ulster Rugby Premiership involving Rainey OB and Malone at Hatrick Park and league programmes in Division 1, 2 and 3 of the Kukri Ulster Rugby Championship. Such is the competition in these three divisions that in Division 1 we have 4 points separating the top 5 sides Portadown, Instonians, Omagh, Ballyclare and Enniskillen with Instonians meeting league leaders Portadown at Shaw’s Bridge and Enniskillen playing Ballyclare at Mullaghmeen this weekend. In the bottom half of this Division we have three teams Cooke, Carrickfergus and Dromore sitting on 14 points with 9th place Clogher Valley on 10 points. Ards remain in 10th place without a win. Both Carrick and Cooke meet at the Tom Simms Memorial Park on Sat.
In Division 2, we have four teams CIYMS, Limavady, Coleraine and Academy separated by one point with Grosvenor a further five points behind the leaders. Two of these teams CIYMS and Coleraine meet at Belmont in East Belfast in a game that is expected to attract one of the biggest crowds to this venue in recent seasons. In the bottom half of this league, Lisburn secured their first league win in defeating fellow strugglers UUC 31 - 0 at the Blaris last week. 10th place Donaghadee remain without a win and entertain Lisburn at Donaldson Park this week.
In Division 3, Ballymoney remain undefeated after 11 games and are being closely pursued by the PSNI and Lurgan to finish in the top two.
Clogher Valley missed out on making the Final of the Ulster Bank All Ireland Junior Cup after going down 20 - 19 in a fiercely contested game at Ashbourne last week. Ashbourne will play current holders Enniscorthy in an all Leinster Final on the 28th January.
Congratulations must go to Ballynahinch 2nds on their 17 - 3 win over Omagh in the Final of the Millar McCall Wylie Junior Cup at Kingspan Stadium on Tuesday night and also the 1st XV who beat Dungannon in the First Trust Senior Cup on Thursday.
SONI ULSTER RUGBY PREMIERSHIP DIVISION 2
// Rainey OB v Malone
Head Coach John Andrews is resting several of his Rainey squad this week with Tommy O'Hagan and John McCusker involved with the Ulster A squad in their British and Irish Cup match away to Cardiff this weekend. Other notables missing will be second row Tim Barker and scrumhalf Michael Wilson.
The coach is giving 1st XV starts to former youth props Aiden McSwiggan and Fintan Quinn with a fourth, Philip McCusker, joining his brothers Ronan and Michael in the Rainey pack. Which will see all four McCusker brothers in the Rainey 1st XV pack. Philip McCusker is described by John Andrew's as a big powerful runner with the ball in hand. He has come through the clubs Youth setup and has made the transition from Gaelic over the summer and the first half of the season to making his debut for the 1st XV this weekend.
Malone Head Coach Paddy Armstrong like his Rainey counterpart is using the opportunity this week to rest players and give several of his fringe players the opportunity to play for the 1st XV. Both Peter Ireland and Josh Davidson come into the second row with Max Porter starting in the back row. Injury rules out Mark O'Connor who has found his form again at Malone this season with former Sullivan scrumhalf Callum Jeffrey coming on to the bench.
KUKRI ULSTER RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION 1
// Carrickfergus v Cooke
A massive game for both sides at the Tom Simms Memorial Park this week. Like Dromore these three teams are aware of the pressure Clogher Valley are applying as they seek to avoid finishing in 9th place and the play offs. Carrick coaches Davy Scott and Michael Rainey are fully aware of how competitive this league is after securing promotion. Narrow home defeats to Omagh 14 - 13 and Instonians 10 - 3 show how valuable every league point is in the fight to stay in Division 1. With back to back games coming up against inform neighbours, Ballyclare on Boxing Day and the 7th January both the coaches and the players will have little or no time to relax. Any complacency by coaches and players in this league will see teams caught up in a relegation battle.
Cooke, under Head Coach Colin Atkinson may have a small playing squad, but they have shown in their games against Ballyclare, lost 23 - 18 and an impressive 24 - 9 win over newly promoted Enniskillen they will be no pushovers. The coach was forced to play scrumhalf Matty Elliott in the back row against Enniskillen with the player turning in an outstanding performance. Captain Toby Mannus has been an inspirational leader on the pitch this season. Once again the Gourley brothers have been key points contributors for Cooke. Alan kicking 4 x pens and 1 x con with Alex scoring a try along with winger Jonathan Backus against Enniskillen. The coach is aware there are no easy games in this division. He will finalise his squad for Carrick after training on Thursday night. Injury rules out Curtis Montgomery with Scott McClelland taking his place.
// Dromore v Omagh
Interesting game this one, for Dromore Head Coach Jonny Cullen it has been an up and down season as the coach tries to build consistency into his team’s performances. Back to back defeats against Ballyclare 32 - 7 and Clogher Valley 3 - 0 has added to the pressure on the coaches and players.
How will the Omagh coaches Philip Marshall, Ashley Blair and their players respond to their poor performance in their 17 - 3 defeat to Ballynahinch seconds in the Junior Cup Final on Tuesday night? Dromore are in urgent need of league points and the Omagh players will have to pick themselves up if they want to maintain their challenge for league honours.
Omagh Head Coach Philip Marshall was gutted by the performance of his team on Tuesday night in the Junior Cup Final. The squad had prepared really well and froze in the first half. He was bitterly disappointed by the performance. As he said you don't mind losing if you have played your 'A' game but that performance was far from it.
The coach is looking for a reaction from his players at Dromore this Saturday. Injury rules out second row Jamie Sproule and full back Alastair Beckett from Tuesday night with a lot of tired bodies in the squad from their efforts. Both Mervyn Edgar and Lee Murphy come in as their replacements.
He is looking nothing less than a win if the team are to maintain their momentum in the league.
// Enniskillen v Ballyclare
Two teams with the ambition to win Division 1 this season… Enniskillen had their title hopes seriously dented when their much vaunted pack were outplayed in their surprise 24 - 9 defeat at Cooke. That makes it two losses in a row after losing at home to Ballynahinch seconds in the Conference league. Head Coach Willy Balfour and his players will not want to make it three defeats in a row. Mullaghmeen is never an easy venue for any visiting team. With a large crowd in attendance the Ballyclare side will have to be at their best to pick up the league points.
The Skins coach is looking forward to the next few weeks as his players get used to playing rugby every week after a lengthy break where they only played two matches. With back to back games coming up with Ballyclare and Omagh we will see whether this Enniskillen squad have the heart and desire to push for league honours.
For this week the coach welcomes back Ryan Cathcart at hooker and Patrick McCleery at scrumhalf.
Ballyclare have been the form team in recent weeks picking up wins against Cooke 23 - 18 and Dromore 32 - 7. They face neighbours Carrick in back to back games and a return visit by Enniskillen to the Cloughan.
Head Coach Mike McKeever has been delighted by the response of his players in achieving the goals they set for themselves this season. Dromore gave his team a very challenging game. They are no easy side to play against. In D1 every team is capable of beating each other on the day. In this league the coach is expecting there to be a close finish this season for the top five places.
The team have a realistic new target for the next three games that they will aim to go for. He acknowledges Enniskillen are having a very good season and he is looking forward to the game with them at the weekend.
Selection this week will see Robert Smith coming into contention after returning from injury. Both Robert Boyd and Michael Rainey are added to the pack.
The coach would like to say a big well done and congratulations to all involved in coaching and supporting the 'Clare Hares'. He was fortunate to get to observe and provide a helping hand on Friday night to the team. It was fantastic to see the rugby that was on offer to this group. Superb stuff and well done to all involved. The team are now on their Winter break.
// Instonians v Portadown
Pre-season title favourites, Instonians may have slipped off the radar following a difficult period where they exited the All Ireland Junior Cup and the Millar McCall Wylie Junior Cup. They have shown their resolve by winning a tight game at Carrick two weeks ago 10 - 3 to place them 2nd in D1, four points behind league leaders Portadown. Inst coaches William Leacock and Mark McDowell have back to back games coming up with Portadown and neighbours Cooke that will tell us alot about the title ambitions of this young Inst squad. The return of the Whitten brothers Robert and Alan along with Ryan McCurry at Carrick had a big impact in their 10 - 3 win. With any one of five teams challenging for the league this season we have the most open contest for the league title in recent years. This weekend Instonians welcome back influential centre Davy Scott to a team that is getting stronger by the week. As Director of Rugby William Leacock acknowledges D1 is a tight league this season.
Portadown Head Coach Richard Hedley and his assistant Ciaran O'Kane have the task to lift their playing squad after watching their team eliminated from the AIL Junior Cup and the heavy 45 - 10 semi final defeat in the Junor Cup at Ballynahinch. This was followed up by a 17 -14 home defeat to Clogher Valley in the league two weeks ago. Portadown can still resurrect their season against a team they defeated 25 - 17 in the Junior Cup on the 5th November. Their last win was a 40 - 7 win over struggling Ards at Chambers Park four weeks ago.
The Portadown coach is expecting another tough game away this week. He agrees his team have been struggling with the number of matches they played during October and November. He welcomed the break last Saturday for the players and hopes it will have a positive impact this week. Injury rules out Lee Bicker and Ryan Calvert with both being replaced by Danny Alexander and Niall Davison.
FIXTURES
Carrickfergus (7) v Cooke (6)
Dromore (8) v Omagh (3)
Enniskillen (5) v Ballyclare (4)
Instonians (2) v Portadown (1)
KUKRI ULSTER RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION 1
// Carrickfergus v Ballyclare. Play Monday 26.12.16. Kick off 2.30pm
KUKRI ULSTER RUGBY CONFERENCE DIVISION 1
// Clogher Valley v Ballymena 2nds
There was disappointment for the Clogher Valley team and supporters when they came up just short against Ashbourne in the All Ireland Junior Cup semi final last week. The focus for coaches Glen Kyle and Davy Black is keeping this proud club in D1 this season. Results in recent weeks have shown that the team and players will fight for every league point. This weekend the coaches will be without the injured Michael Treanor, Nathan Orr, David Sharkey and Philip Moore with both Matty Robinson and Clive Donaldson unavailable. Toby McAlpine, Neil Henderson, Matthew Keyes, Ian Mulligan and Mills are expected to be included in the starting lineup.
FIXTURES
Ards (12) v Ballynahinch 2nds (1)
Clogher Valley (11) v Ballymena seconds (10)
KUKRI RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION 2
// Academy v Randalstown
We all thought it was a two horse race in Division 2 between CIYMS and Coleraine. The performances of Academy and Limavady have now turned the promotion chase into a race involving four teams. Academy Head Coach Gareth Lynn knows his players have to step up to another level if they are to challenge CI and Coleraine. The work put in on the training paddock over Xmas and the New Year will determine the ambition of the team. As the Head Coach points out every game at the minute is a difficult one. His players had turn around a deficit at Larne last week to win 42 - 27.
For the game this week the coach has to make a few changes. Out half Jordan Buchanan is unavailable with New Zealand centre Tate Harte returning home after his gap year. Injury rules out second row Clarke Cooper. The coach is confident he has the depth in the squad to replace him. He is hoping to add number 8 Stewart Martin and Stuart Henderson to the second row to give more physicality. He and the players are not thinking about a top two finish. It is all about winning the next game on Saturday. The goal is to finish the first half of the season having only lost to CI and Coleraine. As the coach puts it, it is the old cliche of taking one game at a time and not thinking too far ahead of ourselves.
Randalstown came up just short against Limavady losing 28 - 24 at Nelisbrook last Saturday. The North West side had built up an early 28 - 0 with Randalstown fighting back and forcing Limavady to hang on for the win. Having lost their last two league games against CI and Limavady they now travel to play an inform Academy side that have joined the promotion race. Randalstown Head Coach Gary Longwell and his young squad were expected to be involved in the top four this season. Results have not favoured them in narrow losses. Can they upset the form book at Roughfort this weekend.
// CIYMS v Coleraine
This is the game everyone is talking about. With Instonians playing Portadown at Shaw’s Bridge for many neutral supporters the place to be in Belfast on Saturday will be Belmont in East Belfast. Why such interest in this match. You have two young and exciting coaches in Gareth Fry of CIYMS and Richard Boyd at Coleraine with two talented playing squads at their disposal. Early season focus was all on the role former Ulster player James McKinney would have in directing CI's promotion challenge. His recent departure to Jersey in the championship has left a void in the team. Another pre-season addition at CI went slightly under the radar. It was the inclusion of former Gloucester player Callum Irvine to their backline. He hasn't failed to disappoint and has become a key player in the CI backline. When CI lost their talented scrumhalf Cameron Stewart to injury there were concerns who would replace him and McKinney. In stepped Cameron Jinks from Coleraine and former Regent House scrum half/Out half Alan Sinnamon to solve the mini crisis.
CI Head Coach Gareth Fry is looking forward to the meeting with Coleraine. He was disappointed his side lost 40 - 12 to a strong Armagh seconds team at the Palace grounds last weekend. He is looking an immediate response from his players this week. He agrees Coleraine are a very strong team from 1 - 15. He will be looking his players to match the physicality of the North coast side. Coleraine have recruited well over the summer and he describes it as hard to see any team live with them over the course of the season. He is expecting a big crowd at Belmont with everybody looking forward to the match.
The squad is on similar lines to recent games with the coach hoping a few players carrying knocks will come through. Key second row forward David Cobain is away on holidays in Australia. As the coach said it is difficult to control the availability of players in the amateur game.
Coleraine Head Coach Richard Boyd and his players are looking forward to the match on Saturday. The team bounced back well from their narrow Junior Cup semi final defeat at Omagh two weeks ago to defeat a strengthened Malone seconds team 27 - 7 in the Conference league last week. On this occasion the coach was able to rotate the squad and rest a number of regular players to keep them fresh and give some of the younger players an opportunity to play on the 1st XV. He was pleased how the young team stepped up against Malone and worked hard to secure the bonus point on the road.
For the match at CIYMS this week. Coleraine are pretty much at full strength with Kyle McAuley ruled out after picking up a concussion injury at Malone. Chris Nash, Michael Ferguson, Roger Bonnar, Stephen Dickey, Brian Hughes, Rhys McAuley and Niall Irwin all return to the starting line up from the side that played at Malone.
He knows CIYMS are a very big and physical side and will fancy themselves at home to win this match. He also knows his players will have to be at their best to match CIYMS at the set piece and contain their fast backline who like to move the ball. This is one of the biggest games in the province this weekend and it is a real testament to the hard work put in by both clubs over the past few months. His Coleraine team have played some excellent rugby this year and the players have shown a great attitude and spirit at training. They will be well prepared and travel with confidence and be ready for the challenge that awaits them at Belmont this weekend.
// Donaghadee v Lisburn
Dee suffered a 70 - 0 defeat at Grosvenor last Saturday. You have to admire coaches Paul Blewitt and Chris Good for the work they are putting in at training and their efforts to fulfil their fixtures this season.
Lisburn under new Head Coach Andy Postlethwaite put in a convincing performance to secure a bonus point win against UUC 31 - 0 last weekend. On paper you would expect Lisburn to pick up the maximum five points this week.
With both Lisburn and UUC sitting on five points there is a real opportunity for Donaghadee to salvage something from their season with a win this weekend.
FIXTURES
Academy (4) v Randalstown (7)
CIYMS (1) v Coleraine (3)
Donaghadee (10) v Lisburn (9)
KUKRI ULSTER RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP/CONFERENCE DIVISION 2
Armagh seconds (4) v Grosvenor (6)
Larne (7) v Banbridge seconds (8)
Limavady (3) v Malone seconds (9)
UUC (12) v Belfast Harlequins seconds (14)
KUKRI ULSTER RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION 3
BHSFP (8) v Monaghan (11)
Letterkenny (9) v Newry (6)
Lurgan (3) v Holywood (5)
PSNI (2) v Cavan (10)
Strabane (4) v Ophir (12)
Virginia (7) v Ballymoney (11)