Excitement is mounting this Easter weekend with clubs entering the final block of games which will decide promotion and relegation in the Ulster Bank AIL League and in the Kukri Qualifying Leagues.
And congratulations immediately to the hugely-impressive Bangor side which added the Qualifying One title to the Junior Cup already secured with a thumping, celebratory 36-14 win over Ballyclare on Thursday evening at home. The club return to Kingspan Stadium on Easter Monday where they will play Enniskillen RFC in the final of the Powerade Towns Cup. Tickets for this game are available here.
For the seven Ulster AIL clubs in Section Two will their AIL programme will conclude over the next two weekends, with vital issues still to be resolved.
In Division 2A Banbridge has a one-point lead over second-placed Naas, with the County Down side facing a tricky fixture away to Galway Corinthians – a side involved in a battle to avoid relegation to Division 2B - with ‘Bann’ closing the season at home to Malone. Both Malone and Queen’s are expected to finish in mid-table after a disappointing second half to their campaigns.
In Division 2B City of Derry remain top-of-the-table despite losing its last four AIL games. The lead is now just one point from Highfield, and like Banbridge this Saturday brings a tricky away fixture at Donnybrook against a Bective Rangers side fighting to avoid relegation to Division 2C.
Both Armagh and Dungannon are expected to finish in the pack, but Rainey OB has plunged into the relegation zone and the play-offs after losing four AIL games on the trot. The Magherfelt side has slipped into ninth place and faces an uphill task to overtake Bective Rangers, which has a six-point advantage with just two games remaining.
In the Kukri Qualifying Leagues there was a league decider at Upritchard Park on Thursday night with Qualifying One leaders Bangor trouncing fourth-placed Ballyclare by 36-14. It was a win, with a bonus point, which saw the North Down club become league champions after a wonderful year.
Champions Instonians, in second spot, would have been hoping Mike McKeever’s Ballyclare side would derail the ambitions of Jason Morgan’s Bangor - Instonians was just one point adrift of the seasiders before Thursday night. So, had Ballyclare denied Bangor the bonus point that would have allowed Instonians an opportunity to obtain maximum points against Portadown at Shaw’s Bridge on Saturday to force a play-off.
Alternatively, had Ballyclare won at Bangor on Thursday night Instonians would only have required only a win against Portadown to retain the Qualifying One League title.
All these scenarios were swept aside in the tide of tries at Upritchard Park, and Bangor now sets its immediate sights on Easter Monday’s Powerade Towns’ Cup, and quickly switch attention to next Saturday’s ‘round robin’ AIL promotion programme with a home match against Connacht champions Westport.
Bangor’s success only adds to an already hectic fixture schedule for the League champions of 2015/16 – but the club will relish its rehabilitation.
Clogher Valley has secured its place in the All-Ireland Junior Cup, with Ballyclare favourites to join them by finishing in fourth place. There is also the possibility that the fifth-placed Qualifying One team can reach the AIL Junior Cup if the league winners survive the ‘round-robin’ process and return to the Ulster Bank AIL
Three points separate Cooke, Omagh, Portadown and Dromore who vie for that fifth spot in the hope of Junior Cup qualification.
The relegation of CIYMS to Qualifying Two has been confirmed, while Ards faces a play-off game against the runners-up in Qualifying Two on Saturday, 16 April, to retain its place in the top Junior tier.
In Qualifying Two Carrickfergus remains in top spot, two points ahead of Coleraine with two games remaining. And those teams meet this Saturday at Rugby Avenue in front of what’s sure to be a wildly partisan set of supporters.
Enniskillen, in third, missed the opportunity to be involved in the promotion chase after losing 9-8 at Carrick last Saturday, but the ‘Skins’, with two games in hand, could still play an important role in deciding who takes the title as both Carrick and Coleraine have to travel to Mullaghmeen in their final league games.
There is an equally intriguing contest going at the bottom of Qualifying Two involving Donaghadee, Lisburn, Grosvenor and Ballymoney, just two points the leeway to make up to avoid finishing in the dreaded ‘bottom two’.
Both Donaghadee and Ballymoney were relegated from last season and will keenly want to avoid ‘the drop’ in consecutive seasons. To add to the conundrum Grosvenor and Lisburn pulled off impressive wins last weekend to put the pressure right back on Donaghadee and Ballymoney.
In Qualifying Three Limavady are already promoted, with UUC and PSNI battling it out to finish in second place and force a promotion play-off with the team finishing ninth in Qualifying Two.
It’s a fascinating weekend and it’s all-to-play-for in all the Qualifying Leagues in an intriguing end-of-season.
ULSTER BANK ALL IRELAND LEAGUE
Division 1A
Cork Constitution v Terenure College
Division 2A
Galway Corinthians v Banbridge
On the back of his success with RBAI in the Schools Cup Banbridge Head Coach Daniel Soper is hoping he can guide Banbridge through the remaining two games with Corinthians and Malone to secure that prized automatic promotion place, as league winners, to Division 1B next season.
Soper is aware that Corinthians will present quite a challenge and that the AIL always turns up surprise results at this time of the year as teams fight to avoid relegation. His side has lost its last two AIL games at Naas and Nenagh but – equally – that his team went to Cashel and won there for the first time. He is hoping for a similar performance and result at Corinthians.
Confident his players are ready to ‘front up’ to the challenge after having two weekends off the coach, apart from his long-term absentees, will have a full squad from which to select.
Banbridge has won four of its six AIL games in 2016 while opponents Corinthians has won its last two AIL games. But perhaps the best omen is that when the sides met at Rifle Park in September Banbridge were convincing winners by 33-13.
Malone v Naas
Naas go into the clash at Gibson Park as heavy favourites, Malone having secured just one AIL win in 2016 while the visitors have won all six of their matches. Under the guidance of former Leicester and Munster winger Jonny Murphy Naas is only one point behind Banbridge in the chase for the automatic promotion place.
So it’s hardly surprising Banbridge will be hoping Malone can upset the formbook on Saturday! And there are real grounds for optimism in Malone ranks as when these two sides met at Naas in September Malone won a high-scoring encounter 40-34.
Malone's Australian Head coach Jarrett Truscott Malone includes Ben Halliday, Dave Cave and Gary Crawford in the front row, with Cory Tipping and James McAllister in the second row. Richard Millar starts at No.8 alongside captain Neil Alcorn and Max Porter in the back row.
Shane Kelly is at scrum half, partnering Nathan Brown, while Josh Pentland starts alongside Michael Cartmill in an exciting centre pairing, with Jack McMurtry and Michael Barker on the wings and Andy Bryans restored at full-back.
Truscott acknowledges the second half of the season has been poor in terms of results, with too many matches lost in the closing 10 minutes, and he’s addressing a series of issues he believes have been major factors in the disappointing end to a season which had promised much.
Thomond v Queen’s University
Queen’s Head Coach Bob Young and his players face a lengthy weekend trip to Limerick to play bottom-of-the-table Thomond, and though the calendar year 2016 started off with promise for the students four defeats have seen the team slip down to seventh place. Of some encouragement to the students is that when these two teams met at ‘the Dub’ in September Queen’s were 17-3 winners.
FIXTURES
Galway Corinthians v Banbridge
Malone v Naas
Nenagh Ormond v Cashel
Skerries v UCC
Thomond v Queen’s University
Division 2B
Armagh v Greystones
In a season that promised much Armagh, like several Ulster sides, has struggled in the second half of the season. Head Coach Alex McCloy will be know his team’s fragile home form at the Palace Grounds will be tested by Greystones, but he’ll take comfort from the fact that neighbours Dungannon travelled to Greystones three weeks ago and won 8-5.
And when these two sides met at Dr Hickey Park in September Greystones were narrow 17-16 winners.
There is also the small matter of a game between Armagh and Dungannon to decide fifth place, the sides meeting at Stevenson Park on Saturday week.
City of Derry v Bective Rangers
Several weeks ago few would have backed against City of Derry to win this match, but four defeats for the North-West side has seen the chasing pack, headed by Highfield, narrow Derry's lead to just one point. Bective Rangers look certain to be in the play-offs having won its last two AIL games against Rainey and Seapoint, taking maximum league points in the process.
The Donnybrook side will be difficult opponents for City of Derry on Saturday, it’s a real test of character for the visitors who can perhaps be motivated by the memory of a 40-17 win at Judges Road in September.
MU Barnhall v Rainey OB
Four defeats have plunged Rainey into a relegation play-off place with just two games remaining. Coach John Andrews knows it’s been a tough's few weeks for his players, with the home loss to Bective pivotal.
Tough as it will be to avoid the play-offs the key now is to get a win - and soon! - so if a relegation play-off ensues then at least those games can be approached with some confidence. The coach has almost a full squad available for the trip to Parsonstown, but with Rory Winters tearing his ACL against Dungannon that will rule him out for the remainder of the season.
When these two sides met at Hatrick Park in September Rainey won a closely fought game 27-21.
Seapoint v Dungannon
Dungannon coach Andrew Hughes was delighted to see his team win the all-Ulster match with Rainey last weekend by 20-14, a win which secured AIL Division 2B rugby next season and took the pressure off his players going into the last two games. Hughes is looking forward to the trip to tenth-placed Seapoint on Saturday, and insists the side cannot ‘take the foot off the gas’ and undo the good work of the past seven weeks. Arrive with the wrong attitude, he says, and it could prove to be a difficult afternoon.
The only player missing this weekend is skipper James McMahon who is ruled out with a shoulder injury. When these two sides met at Stevenson Park in September Dungannon won 28-15.
FIXTURES
Sunday's Well v Highfield Friday, kick-off 7.30pm
Armagh v Greystones
Bective Rangers v City of Derry
MU Barnhall v Rainey OB
Seapoint v Dungannon
Division 2C
Boyne v Wanderers
Dundalk v Midleton
Kanturk v Sligo
Navan RFC v Old Crescent
Tullamore v Bruff
KUKRI QULAIFYING LEAGUE ONE
Bangor 36 – 14 Ballyclare
A six-try bonus-point win in Thursday night’s game crowned Bangor as Kukri League Champions, the fulfilment of First XV manager Ricky Armstrong’s ambition for the season.
Player-coach Jason Morgan has masterfully guided Bangor through an historic season, and he’ll relish preparing his squad for one last ‘push’ for promotion to senior AIL rugby.
Mike McKeever’s Ballyclare travelled to Upritchard Park intent on proving difficult opponents looking to consolidate fourth place and qualification for the AIL Junior Cup next season. But the evening, and the league season, belonged to Bangor – already Junior Cup winners – who now contest the Powerade Towns’ Cup Final on Easter Monday against Enniskillen hoping to capture of the domestic treble in Ulster.
The formbook proved a true guide – and when the sides met at The Cloughan earlier in the season the seasiders eased home 55-7 - so Bangor head for the ‘round-robin’ AIL promotion/relegation series next weekend with an opening home game with Westport.
This season Jason Morgan and his coaching staff have used 37 players on the First XV, and the side on Thursday included Michael Ferguson, Philip Whyte and James Leary in the front row, while Craig Burton and Darren Kelly continued their partnership in the second row, and captain Jamie Clegg was joined by David Bradford and Curtis Stewart in the back row.
Jason Guthrie and Gareth Millar were at half-back, with Morgan and Mike Weir paired in the centre. Desi Fusco and Mark Widdowson played on the wings with Ross McCloskey at full-back.
Ballyclare coach McKeever was looking forward to the game on Thursday night with his own targets set: winning the game at Bangor, of course, but securing a place in the AIL Junior Cup next season a priority.
Last weekend’s game with Portadown saw a much-improved performance after losing at home to Cooke, and McKeever will be looking to in-form players Stuart Cusick, Gary Clotworthy, Willie Logan and Bobby Smith to end the season with another strong performance for their club.
Acutely aware that Omagh can deny Ballyclare that coveted fourth-place finish place if maximum points are taken in the two remaining games with Clogher Valley the coach wants his side to concentrate on its own challenges to the end of the season.
CIYMS v Ards
These are teams which have struggled this season given the strength in depth of opponents in Qualifying One.
For the game at Belmont on Saturday Ards Director of Rugby Stephen Nutt is hopes his players can win to give his squad a ‘lift’ prior to the relegation play-off match in a fortnight. Injury rules out captain Mark Banford, Ross Torney and Conrad Stewart, but coach David Irwin will welcome back Graeme Taylor and the experienced John Dowey to his squad after performing for the Second XV.
When these two sides met at Hamilton Park in December Ards won 13-8, and it could be just as close again in Belfast.
Clogher Valley v Omagh
There may be a touch of disappointment for the faithful in Fivemiletown that Clogher Valley did not reach a Cup Final in its 25th anniversary season, but for coaches Glen Kyle and Davy Black three Cup semi-Finals and a third-place finish in the League - along with qualification for the AIL Junior Cup – the year has to be judges a success.
With a County Tyrone ‘derby’ coming up against Omagh at the Cran this weekend the coaches expect a reaction to recent setbacks from the Clogher players, though team selection was deferred given that between six and eleven regulars may be missing.
Omagh Head coach Philip Marshall is missing Mark Smyth, Jamie Sproule, Stuart Allen and Davy Ward for the trip to Fivemiletown, where he anticipates a hard, attritional game, but he’s hoping his players can produce a win to keep their ‘alive’ and possibly earn qualification for the AIL Junior Cup.
This is the first league meeting this season between these teams with the return game pencilled in for Saturday, 9 April at the Thomas Mellon Playing Fields.
Dromore v Cooke
Head coach Jonny Cullen is looking to his Dromore players to finish their season with a win against Cooke, feeling they have played the type of rugby he knows they can play in recent weeks. For this weekend injury rules out Brian McClearn, while full-back Ryan Cobb is unavailable. Both are replaced in the backline by Scott Nelson and Adam McDonald.
When these two sides met at Shaw’s Bridge in December Cooke ran out narrow 28 - 27 winners in an entertaining match.
Instonians v Portadown
Thursday night decided that this match will have any bearing on this year’s league title, Bangor securing maximum points at home to Ballyclare which meant Instonians ceded its Qualifying One title after a sterling defence. So far the season has not produced any silverware for coach William Leacock and his players despite Final appearances in the AIL Junior Cup and in the Millar McCall Wylie Junior Cup.
When Instonians and Portadown last met, at Chambers Park two weeks ago, Instonians triumphed by 31-15.
Portadown Head coach Richard Hedley believes the loss of the Towns’ Cup quarter final at Clogher Valley has impacted on his players with the team losing its last four league games after challenging strongly for a Top Four finish.
At the minute Bangor and Instonians have just too much quality and depth and that’s highlighted in the league table.
For this weekend the coach will be missing Gareth McCoy, John Purdy, Andrew Chambers and Neil Irwin who are not available.
They are replaced by Matthew Wilson, Darmuid O'Kane, Conor Megarrity and Brian Forrestal.
FIXTURES
*Bangor 36-14 Ballyclare Thursday. *Bangor are champions
CIYMS v Ards
Clogher Valley v Omagh
Dromore v Cooke
Instonians v Portadown
KUKRI QUALIFYING TWO
Donaghadee v Larne
After being hospitalised last week Dee Head coach John West has the task of lifting his team for the remaining league matches following four defeats, just two points separating the bottom four teams. Again he won't be able to finalise selection until late in the week, but West hopes to field a stronger side this weekend.
Larne Head Coach Ryan Milligan is hoping his team can halt its four-match losing, disappointed though he was with some aspects of the 20-15 defeat at Grosvenor. He has asked his players for a strong finish to the end of their season in their last two games.
The side can be pleased with its fifth-place position after being promoted last season, and on Saturday Milligan will welcome back Gary Mills, John McKinty, Colin McKinty, Geoff McKinty, Phil Andrews and Rhys Thomas. Injury rules out Craig Gibson, while both Jonny Hall and Ian McIheron are unavailable.
These two sides have already met twice this season: Larne won the league game at the Glynn in October by 32-15, while ‘Dee’ won the Towns Cup match at Larne in January by 26-20. So it all points to an intriguing ‘decider’!
Academy v Ballymoney
Academy’s Head Coach Gareth Lynn will be looking for a reaction from his team after losing the last three games in league and Cup. Small margins resulted in home losses against Randalstown on Saturday by 7-3, and a 24-17 McCrea Cup defeat to Malone 2nds two weeks ago.
Lynn has been disappointed with the team’s recent performances and is looking for a win against Ballymoney and hoping he will have a full squad from which to select.
Ballymoney coach James Carson and his players were left reeling from the44-0 defeat at fellow relegation strugglers Lisburn last Saturday, and with just two games remaining ‘Money will struggle to pick up the league points to avoid finishing bottom and suffer relegation for a second successive season.
Saturday’s trip to Academy is a ‘must win’ game for Ballymoney, the memory of when these two sides met at Kilraughts Road in October best forgotten as Academy ran out convincing 35-13 winners.
FIXTURES
Donaghadee v Larne
Academy v Ballymoney
SECOND XV LEAGUE
Banbridge v Queen’s
Malone v Ballymena
And congratulations immediately to the hugely-impressive Bangor side which added the Qualifying One title to the Junior Cup already secured with a thumping, celebratory 36-14 win over Ballyclare on Thursday evening at home. The club return to Kingspan Stadium on Easter Monday where they will play Enniskillen RFC in the final of the Powerade Towns Cup. Tickets for this game are available here.
For the seven Ulster AIL clubs in Section Two will their AIL programme will conclude over the next two weekends, with vital issues still to be resolved.
In Division 2A Banbridge has a one-point lead over second-placed Naas, with the County Down side facing a tricky fixture away to Galway Corinthians – a side involved in a battle to avoid relegation to Division 2B - with ‘Bann’ closing the season at home to Malone. Both Malone and Queen’s are expected to finish in mid-table after a disappointing second half to their campaigns.
In Division 2B City of Derry remain top-of-the-table despite losing its last four AIL games. The lead is now just one point from Highfield, and like Banbridge this Saturday brings a tricky away fixture at Donnybrook against a Bective Rangers side fighting to avoid relegation to Division 2C.
Both Armagh and Dungannon are expected to finish in the pack, but Rainey OB has plunged into the relegation zone and the play-offs after losing four AIL games on the trot. The Magherfelt side has slipped into ninth place and faces an uphill task to overtake Bective Rangers, which has a six-point advantage with just two games remaining.
In the Kukri Qualifying Leagues there was a league decider at Upritchard Park on Thursday night with Qualifying One leaders Bangor trouncing fourth-placed Ballyclare by 36-14. It was a win, with a bonus point, which saw the North Down club become league champions after a wonderful year.
Champions Instonians, in second spot, would have been hoping Mike McKeever’s Ballyclare side would derail the ambitions of Jason Morgan’s Bangor - Instonians was just one point adrift of the seasiders before Thursday night. So, had Ballyclare denied Bangor the bonus point that would have allowed Instonians an opportunity to obtain maximum points against Portadown at Shaw’s Bridge on Saturday to force a play-off.
Alternatively, had Ballyclare won at Bangor on Thursday night Instonians would only have required only a win against Portadown to retain the Qualifying One League title.
All these scenarios were swept aside in the tide of tries at Upritchard Park, and Bangor now sets its immediate sights on Easter Monday’s Powerade Towns’ Cup, and quickly switch attention to next Saturday’s ‘round robin’ AIL promotion programme with a home match against Connacht champions Westport.
Bangor’s success only adds to an already hectic fixture schedule for the League champions of 2015/16 – but the club will relish its rehabilitation.
Clogher Valley has secured its place in the All-Ireland Junior Cup, with Ballyclare favourites to join them by finishing in fourth place. There is also the possibility that the fifth-placed Qualifying One team can reach the AIL Junior Cup if the league winners survive the ‘round-robin’ process and return to the Ulster Bank AIL
Three points separate Cooke, Omagh, Portadown and Dromore who vie for that fifth spot in the hope of Junior Cup qualification.
The relegation of CIYMS to Qualifying Two has been confirmed, while Ards faces a play-off game against the runners-up in Qualifying Two on Saturday, 16 April, to retain its place in the top Junior tier.
In Qualifying Two Carrickfergus remains in top spot, two points ahead of Coleraine with two games remaining. And those teams meet this Saturday at Rugby Avenue in front of what’s sure to be a wildly partisan set of supporters.
Enniskillen, in third, missed the opportunity to be involved in the promotion chase after losing 9-8 at Carrick last Saturday, but the ‘Skins’, with two games in hand, could still play an important role in deciding who takes the title as both Carrick and Coleraine have to travel to Mullaghmeen in their final league games.
There is an equally intriguing contest going at the bottom of Qualifying Two involving Donaghadee, Lisburn, Grosvenor and Ballymoney, just two points the leeway to make up to avoid finishing in the dreaded ‘bottom two’.
Both Donaghadee and Ballymoney were relegated from last season and will keenly want to avoid ‘the drop’ in consecutive seasons. To add to the conundrum Grosvenor and Lisburn pulled off impressive wins last weekend to put the pressure right back on Donaghadee and Ballymoney.
In Qualifying Three Limavady are already promoted, with UUC and PSNI battling it out to finish in second place and force a promotion play-off with the team finishing ninth in Qualifying Two.
It’s a fascinating weekend and it’s all-to-play-for in all the Qualifying Leagues in an intriguing end-of-season.
ULSTER BANK ALL IRELAND LEAGUE
Division 1A
Cork Constitution v Terenure College
Division 2A
Galway Corinthians v Banbridge
On the back of his success with RBAI in the Schools Cup Banbridge Head Coach Daniel Soper is hoping he can guide Banbridge through the remaining two games with Corinthians and Malone to secure that prized automatic promotion place, as league winners, to Division 1B next season.
Soper is aware that Corinthians will present quite a challenge and that the AIL always turns up surprise results at this time of the year as teams fight to avoid relegation. His side has lost its last two AIL games at Naas and Nenagh but – equally – that his team went to Cashel and won there for the first time. He is hoping for a similar performance and result at Corinthians.
Confident his players are ready to ‘front up’ to the challenge after having two weekends off the coach, apart from his long-term absentees, will have a full squad from which to select.
Banbridge has won four of its six AIL games in 2016 while opponents Corinthians has won its last two AIL games. But perhaps the best omen is that when the sides met at Rifle Park in September Banbridge were convincing winners by 33-13.
Malone v Naas
Naas go into the clash at Gibson Park as heavy favourites, Malone having secured just one AIL win in 2016 while the visitors have won all six of their matches. Under the guidance of former Leicester and Munster winger Jonny Murphy Naas is only one point behind Banbridge in the chase for the automatic promotion place.
So it’s hardly surprising Banbridge will be hoping Malone can upset the formbook on Saturday! And there are real grounds for optimism in Malone ranks as when these two sides met at Naas in September Malone won a high-scoring encounter 40-34.
Malone's Australian Head coach Jarrett Truscott Malone includes Ben Halliday, Dave Cave and Gary Crawford in the front row, with Cory Tipping and James McAllister in the second row. Richard Millar starts at No.8 alongside captain Neil Alcorn and Max Porter in the back row.
Shane Kelly is at scrum half, partnering Nathan Brown, while Josh Pentland starts alongside Michael Cartmill in an exciting centre pairing, with Jack McMurtry and Michael Barker on the wings and Andy Bryans restored at full-back.
Truscott acknowledges the second half of the season has been poor in terms of results, with too many matches lost in the closing 10 minutes, and he’s addressing a series of issues he believes have been major factors in the disappointing end to a season which had promised much.
Thomond v Queen’s University
Queen’s Head Coach Bob Young and his players face a lengthy weekend trip to Limerick to play bottom-of-the-table Thomond, and though the calendar year 2016 started off with promise for the students four defeats have seen the team slip down to seventh place. Of some encouragement to the students is that when these two teams met at ‘the Dub’ in September Queen’s were 17-3 winners.
FIXTURES
Galway Corinthians v Banbridge
Malone v Naas
Nenagh Ormond v Cashel
Skerries v UCC
Thomond v Queen’s University
Division 2B
Armagh v Greystones
In a season that promised much Armagh, like several Ulster sides, has struggled in the second half of the season. Head Coach Alex McCloy will be know his team’s fragile home form at the Palace Grounds will be tested by Greystones, but he’ll take comfort from the fact that neighbours Dungannon travelled to Greystones three weeks ago and won 8-5.
And when these two sides met at Dr Hickey Park in September Greystones were narrow 17-16 winners.
There is also the small matter of a game between Armagh and Dungannon to decide fifth place, the sides meeting at Stevenson Park on Saturday week.
City of Derry v Bective Rangers
Several weeks ago few would have backed against City of Derry to win this match, but four defeats for the North-West side has seen the chasing pack, headed by Highfield, narrow Derry's lead to just one point. Bective Rangers look certain to be in the play-offs having won its last two AIL games against Rainey and Seapoint, taking maximum league points in the process.
The Donnybrook side will be difficult opponents for City of Derry on Saturday, it’s a real test of character for the visitors who can perhaps be motivated by the memory of a 40-17 win at Judges Road in September.
MU Barnhall v Rainey OB
Four defeats have plunged Rainey into a relegation play-off place with just two games remaining. Coach John Andrews knows it’s been a tough's few weeks for his players, with the home loss to Bective pivotal.
Tough as it will be to avoid the play-offs the key now is to get a win - and soon! - so if a relegation play-off ensues then at least those games can be approached with some confidence. The coach has almost a full squad available for the trip to Parsonstown, but with Rory Winters tearing his ACL against Dungannon that will rule him out for the remainder of the season.
When these two sides met at Hatrick Park in September Rainey won a closely fought game 27-21.
Seapoint v Dungannon
Dungannon coach Andrew Hughes was delighted to see his team win the all-Ulster match with Rainey last weekend by 20-14, a win which secured AIL Division 2B rugby next season and took the pressure off his players going into the last two games. Hughes is looking forward to the trip to tenth-placed Seapoint on Saturday, and insists the side cannot ‘take the foot off the gas’ and undo the good work of the past seven weeks. Arrive with the wrong attitude, he says, and it could prove to be a difficult afternoon.
The only player missing this weekend is skipper James McMahon who is ruled out with a shoulder injury. When these two sides met at Stevenson Park in September Dungannon won 28-15.
FIXTURES
Sunday's Well v Highfield Friday, kick-off 7.30pm
Armagh v Greystones
Bective Rangers v City of Derry
MU Barnhall v Rainey OB
Seapoint v Dungannon
Division 2C
Boyne v Wanderers
Dundalk v Midleton
Kanturk v Sligo
Navan RFC v Old Crescent
Tullamore v Bruff
KUKRI QULAIFYING LEAGUE ONE
Bangor 36 – 14 Ballyclare
A six-try bonus-point win in Thursday night’s game crowned Bangor as Kukri League Champions, the fulfilment of First XV manager Ricky Armstrong’s ambition for the season.
Player-coach Jason Morgan has masterfully guided Bangor through an historic season, and he’ll relish preparing his squad for one last ‘push’ for promotion to senior AIL rugby.
Mike McKeever’s Ballyclare travelled to Upritchard Park intent on proving difficult opponents looking to consolidate fourth place and qualification for the AIL Junior Cup next season. But the evening, and the league season, belonged to Bangor – already Junior Cup winners – who now contest the Powerade Towns’ Cup Final on Easter Monday against Enniskillen hoping to capture of the domestic treble in Ulster.
The formbook proved a true guide – and when the sides met at The Cloughan earlier in the season the seasiders eased home 55-7 - so Bangor head for the ‘round-robin’ AIL promotion/relegation series next weekend with an opening home game with Westport.
This season Jason Morgan and his coaching staff have used 37 players on the First XV, and the side on Thursday included Michael Ferguson, Philip Whyte and James Leary in the front row, while Craig Burton and Darren Kelly continued their partnership in the second row, and captain Jamie Clegg was joined by David Bradford and Curtis Stewart in the back row.
Jason Guthrie and Gareth Millar were at half-back, with Morgan and Mike Weir paired in the centre. Desi Fusco and Mark Widdowson played on the wings with Ross McCloskey at full-back.
Ballyclare coach McKeever was looking forward to the game on Thursday night with his own targets set: winning the game at Bangor, of course, but securing a place in the AIL Junior Cup next season a priority.
Last weekend’s game with Portadown saw a much-improved performance after losing at home to Cooke, and McKeever will be looking to in-form players Stuart Cusick, Gary Clotworthy, Willie Logan and Bobby Smith to end the season with another strong performance for their club.
Acutely aware that Omagh can deny Ballyclare that coveted fourth-place finish place if maximum points are taken in the two remaining games with Clogher Valley the coach wants his side to concentrate on its own challenges to the end of the season.
CIYMS v Ards
These are teams which have struggled this season given the strength in depth of opponents in Qualifying One.
For the game at Belmont on Saturday Ards Director of Rugby Stephen Nutt is hopes his players can win to give his squad a ‘lift’ prior to the relegation play-off match in a fortnight. Injury rules out captain Mark Banford, Ross Torney and Conrad Stewart, but coach David Irwin will welcome back Graeme Taylor and the experienced John Dowey to his squad after performing for the Second XV.
When these two sides met at Hamilton Park in December Ards won 13-8, and it could be just as close again in Belfast.
Clogher Valley v Omagh
There may be a touch of disappointment for the faithful in Fivemiletown that Clogher Valley did not reach a Cup Final in its 25th anniversary season, but for coaches Glen Kyle and Davy Black three Cup semi-Finals and a third-place finish in the League - along with qualification for the AIL Junior Cup – the year has to be judges a success.
With a County Tyrone ‘derby’ coming up against Omagh at the Cran this weekend the coaches expect a reaction to recent setbacks from the Clogher players, though team selection was deferred given that between six and eleven regulars may be missing.
Omagh Head coach Philip Marshall is missing Mark Smyth, Jamie Sproule, Stuart Allen and Davy Ward for the trip to Fivemiletown, where he anticipates a hard, attritional game, but he’s hoping his players can produce a win to keep their ‘alive’ and possibly earn qualification for the AIL Junior Cup.
This is the first league meeting this season between these teams with the return game pencilled in for Saturday, 9 April at the Thomas Mellon Playing Fields.
Dromore v Cooke
Head coach Jonny Cullen is looking to his Dromore players to finish their season with a win against Cooke, feeling they have played the type of rugby he knows they can play in recent weeks. For this weekend injury rules out Brian McClearn, while full-back Ryan Cobb is unavailable. Both are replaced in the backline by Scott Nelson and Adam McDonald.
When these two sides met at Shaw’s Bridge in December Cooke ran out narrow 28 - 27 winners in an entertaining match.
Instonians v Portadown
Thursday night decided that this match will have any bearing on this year’s league title, Bangor securing maximum points at home to Ballyclare which meant Instonians ceded its Qualifying One title after a sterling defence. So far the season has not produced any silverware for coach William Leacock and his players despite Final appearances in the AIL Junior Cup and in the Millar McCall Wylie Junior Cup.
When Instonians and Portadown last met, at Chambers Park two weeks ago, Instonians triumphed by 31-15.
Portadown Head coach Richard Hedley believes the loss of the Towns’ Cup quarter final at Clogher Valley has impacted on his players with the team losing its last four league games after challenging strongly for a Top Four finish.
At the minute Bangor and Instonians have just too much quality and depth and that’s highlighted in the league table.
For this weekend the coach will be missing Gareth McCoy, John Purdy, Andrew Chambers and Neil Irwin who are not available.
They are replaced by Matthew Wilson, Darmuid O'Kane, Conor Megarrity and Brian Forrestal.
FIXTURES
*Bangor 36-14 Ballyclare Thursday. *Bangor are champions
CIYMS v Ards
Clogher Valley v Omagh
Dromore v Cooke
Instonians v Portadown
KUKRI QUALIFYING TWO
Donaghadee v Larne
After being hospitalised last week Dee Head coach John West has the task of lifting his team for the remaining league matches following four defeats, just two points separating the bottom four teams. Again he won't be able to finalise selection until late in the week, but West hopes to field a stronger side this weekend.
Larne Head Coach Ryan Milligan is hoping his team can halt its four-match losing, disappointed though he was with some aspects of the 20-15 defeat at Grosvenor. He has asked his players for a strong finish to the end of their season in their last two games.
The side can be pleased with its fifth-place position after being promoted last season, and on Saturday Milligan will welcome back Gary Mills, John McKinty, Colin McKinty, Geoff McKinty, Phil Andrews and Rhys Thomas. Injury rules out Craig Gibson, while both Jonny Hall and Ian McIheron are unavailable.
These two sides have already met twice this season: Larne won the league game at the Glynn in October by 32-15, while ‘Dee’ won the Towns Cup match at Larne in January by 26-20. So it all points to an intriguing ‘decider’!
Academy v Ballymoney
Academy’s Head Coach Gareth Lynn will be looking for a reaction from his team after losing the last three games in league and Cup. Small margins resulted in home losses against Randalstown on Saturday by 7-3, and a 24-17 McCrea Cup defeat to Malone 2nds two weeks ago.
Lynn has been disappointed with the team’s recent performances and is looking for a win against Ballymoney and hoping he will have a full squad from which to select.
Ballymoney coach James Carson and his players were left reeling from the44-0 defeat at fellow relegation strugglers Lisburn last Saturday, and with just two games remaining ‘Money will struggle to pick up the league points to avoid finishing bottom and suffer relegation for a second successive season.
Saturday’s trip to Academy is a ‘must win’ game for Ballymoney, the memory of when these two sides met at Kilraughts Road in October best forgotten as Academy ran out convincing 35-13 winners.
FIXTURES
Donaghadee v Larne
Academy v Ballymoney
SECOND XV LEAGUE
Banbridge v Queen’s
Malone v Ballymena