The weekend promises to be one of the most important for Ulster clubs as the important issues come into firm focus. The All Ireland League has reached that stage when coaches, players and supporters are looking for signs that promotion ambitions and survival hopes, can be confirmed.
Similar concerns are just as predominant in the Ulster domestic scene, and in the Kukri Qualifying and other leagues the imminence of Spring always concentrates the minds of clubs across the Province.
With Ireland in the midst of the Six Nations, and Ulster’s professional side challenging for silverware, the next several weeks hold out the promise of all the ups-and-downs, the excitement and thrills which only sport can generate right across the age and gender spectrum.
It’s going to be a frantic few months, but enthralling and entertaining and putting rugby in Ulster firmly in the spotlight!
Ulster Bank All Ireland League
Division 1A
Ballynahinch v Old Belvedere
Despite losing 7-6 at Young Munster last weekend, despite a 6-0 half-time advantage, there is a real belief in the Ballynahinch camp that the players can still avoid the drop into Division 1B.
With four matches left to play ‘Hinch is five points behind ninth-placed Terenure College which has a game in hand. With Terenure College and Galwegians, in eighth, recording surprising wins over top four sides UCD and Garryowen last week there is added pressure on Ballynahinch's survival hopes. When Old Belvedere came to Ballymacarn Park in October the Dublin side won an entertaining match 34-24. But there is the talent in the backline and up front to reverse that result and give the ‘Hinch faithful a big away win boost on Saturday.
FIXTURES
Clontarf v Young Munster
Garryowen v Terenure College
Lansdowne v Galwegians
Old Belvedere v Ballynahinch
UCD v Cork Constitution
Division 1B
Ballymena v Shannon
The Eaton Park side suffered its third league defeat in a row at Blackrock College a week ago by 18-16. Despite the unavailability of 15 players Head Coach Andy Graham felt his team had enough opportunities to win, starting very badly but coming back strongly in the second quarter.
Unfortunately poor kicking options ultimately cost third-placed Ballymena a win, so the focus switches to the visit of Shannon, though at this stage Graham is unsure of his starting twenty for Saturday and will await news from Ulster on the players who may be released. Facing fitness tests are David Whann, Connor Smyth, James Beattie and Jordan Foster, while Mark Foster, Bryan Young and Callum Patterson are unavailable.
Ross Kane, John Creighton, Paddy McGowan, Michael Shiels, Chrissy Allen, Matty Rea and Aidy Kirkpatrick remain injured, and hooker Adam McBurney is involved with the Ireland Under 20s. If last Saturday was a missed opportunity this home clash with the Limerick side offers the opportunity for a league ‘double’, as Ballymena dug deep to win 22-19 at Thomond Park in October.
Belfast Harlequins v Buccaneers
The omens do not look good for bottom-of-the-table Belfast Harlequins retaining its place in Division 1B after the team suffered a heart-breaking 23-22 defeat at Dolphin in Cork last week, leaving the Deramore Park team fourteen points behind ninth-placed UL Bohemians with just four games remaining.
The Limerick hosts won 25-22 at Shannon on Friday night of last week as it battles for its own survival in Division 1B so for Harlequins and Ballynahinch a division above, the results on that Friday night did not go the way of the Ulster sides.
FIXTURES
Ballymena v Shannon
Buccaneers v Belfast Harlequins
Old Wesley v Dolphin
St Mary's College v Blackrock College
UL Bohemians v Dublin University
Division 2B
Sunday's Well v Rainey OB
Rainey OB Head Coach John Andrews has used the three weeks since his eighth-placed team defeated Armagh 21-10 to put his players through a mini pre-season to prepare for six back-to-back games in the AIL up to the first Saturday in April.
The break also helped enable several of his players - including Darren Corrigan, Jonny Lees and Stephen Rutledge - to recover from injury and put themselves in contention for inclusion in the squad this weekend. The games against Greystones, City of Derry and Armagh had put the squad in a good place and with two-thirds of its AIL programme completed the coaches and players have set themselves a points target for the remaining games.
Within the playing squad several of the young players have made significant progress with prop Tommy O'Hagan now training three days a week with the Ulster Academy. Andrews rates the 21-year-old, who is big and strong with a dynamic side to his play, and a former gaelic footballer who made the transition into the Ulster set-up. No.8 Darren Corrigan is another expected to be involved with the Ulster under 19/20 squad this summer after his first season playing All Ireland Rugby.
And there are many others in the squad at Hatricks where Ulster and Ireland centre Luke Marshall has joined the coaching team - with ambitions to play professional rugby and are progressing through the age-group structures. And the brothers John, Ronan and Michael McCusker and Andrew, Ciaran and Matthew Donaghy demonstrate the real family ‘feel’ in the group, while hooker Joe Roe has just completed a short trial at Munster.
So Rainey is providing opportunities for players to play in the AIL and giving aspiring young players the opportunity to play professional rugby.
For the first of two trips to Cork in the next three weeks the coach has been able to select from a strong squad to travel to fourth-placed Sunday’s Well. His starting XV this weekend includes a front row of Tommy O'Hagan, Joe Roe and Neil O'Kane, with Peter Stewart and Ronan McCusker in the second row. Jody McMurray continues at No.8 with Rory Winters and Jonny Lees making up the back row.
Andrew Donaghy and Gavin Martin are at half-back, with Damien McMurray and Simon Derby in the centre, Nicholas Stirling and Scott McLean on the wings and Josh McIIroy at full-back. Darren Corrigan makes his return from injury to take his place on the bench along with Ciaran Donaghy, Andrew Shaw, Bernard Mullan and Matthew McClelland.
When these two sides met at Hatrick Park in October Sundays Well were narrow 10 - 6 winners, so eighth-placed Rainey would like to reverse that result.
FIXTURES
Sunday's Well v Rainey OB
Kukri Qualifying League
Qualifying One
Ards v Ballyclare
In the first of back-to-back meetings in September at The Cloughan Ballyclare beat Ards in the league by 42-12, and ran out 24-0 Junior Cup victors the following week.
Ards find themselves ninth in the table with five games remaining, 17 points behind Dromore and facing the prospect of playing in a play-off against the second place team in Qualifying Two if it is to retain its place in the top junior tier. Facing three games in eight days – against Ballyclare, Clogher Valley on Wednesday of next week, and then Instonians - Director of Rugby Stephen Nutt is looking forward to this block of games.
He is not expecting too many changes to the starting XV from that which lost to Portadown, with Onisi Burekama and Nathan Graham added to the squad after injury and flanker Conran Stewart facing a late fitness test.
This week Ards announced that former Grosvenor coach Alasdair McKee has joined the coaching staff at Ards for the remainder of the season, just the start of an exciting phase at Hamilton Park despite continuing concerns about the future of the ground.
Fourth-placed Ballyclare is competing with Clogher Valley and Portadown to finish in the Top Four and qualify for the All Ireland Junior Cup, and with four games remaining it secured an important win over Omagh 26-8 at the Cloughan. Head Coach Mike McKeever’s aim is to win the four remaining matches, and is happy to have played two games more than Portadown and Clogher Valley rather than playing ‘catch-up’ rugby.
The coach will face several difficult selection issues this weekend with players including Robert Smith, Collie Morrow and Andrew Butler making themselves available, though it’s difficult to make changes to a team that secured the bonus point in the 26-8 win over Omagh last Saturday, Ryan Tweed and James Greer impressing.
CIYMS v Bangor
The signs are not good for the future of CIYMS in Qualifying One 1 with four games remaining, eight points behind ninth-placed Ards and its cause not helped by a 29-10 home defeat against Dromore last weekend. Head coach Gareth Fry has faced a season blighted by injuries and unavailability and plans to give several of his younger players a start this week against the league leaders Bangor.
Bangor won the corresponding match at Upritchard Park in September by 50-0, and returned to the top of the division this week with a five-try 31-3 demolition of Omagh. The trip to Belmont will mean a third game in eight days, last week’s 48-3 Powerade Towns’ Cup win over North Down rivals Donaghadee ensuring a third Cup semi-final this campaign.
This weekend Bangor has Orran McIImurray, Paddy Dornan and Philip Whyte in the front row, Michael Ferguson and Darren Kelly paired at lock, while Mike Weir joins David Bradford and captain Jamie Clegg in the back row. Jason Guthrie and No.10 Jason Morgan continue at half-back, and Desi Fusco returns from injury to partner Mark Widdowson in the centre. Davy Charles and Neil Cuthbertson are on the wings with Ross McCloskey at full-back.
Adam McCusker and Curtis Stewart take their places on the bench, but injury rules out centre Rob Gamble and Andrew Jackson, and second-row Craig Burton is unavailable.
Clogher Valley v Dromore
With seven league games left to be played by the end of March, a Towns’ Cup semi-final against neighbours Enniskillen in a fortnight, on there will be few opportunities for the players from fourth-placed Clogher Valley to rest. They face three games in eight days starting with Dromore on Saturday, followed by Ards on Wednesday night and CIYMS next weekend.
It’s hardly a new situation for a club which has learned to adapt to the hectic schedule fashioned by the successes of recent seasons. Any outside chance Clogher had of winning the league evaporated last Saturday in the narrow 10-7 loss to league champions Instonians.
In its 25th anniversary season the team will want to finish in the top four and bring back the Towns’ Cup to The Cran. Valley makes one change to the starting XV with prop Philip Moore ruled out for two weeks with an ankle injury, so he will be replaced by Philip Hopper, but injury continues to rule out Philip Holme.
When the sides met at Barban Hill in September the home side won a tight game by 8-7, and Dromore Head Coach Jonny Cullen has been disappointed his team has not been able to improve on its Top Four finish of last season. He is looking to the players to build on the 29-10 win at CIYMS last Saturday in their four remaining league matches.
Cooke v Portadown
All the ingredients are there for a huge contest at Shaw’s Bridge as Cooke needs a win to finish in the top four, while Portadown coach Richard Hedley wants his team to consolidate its third place in Qualifying One. Cooke’s Colin Atkinson will be without Sam Bridge, Andrew Nelson, Callum Robinson, David Marshall due to injury, with Russell Hunter, Daniel Dawson and Ian Anderson unavailable due to work commitments.
Philip Cartmill will return to skipper the side, but selection will not be finalised until very late in the week.
Portadown scored six tries in the convincing 38-12 win over Ards last weekend at Chambers Park, but injury rules out Willie Graham and Matthew Wilson, Robert Reid and Andrew Chambers are all unavailable. Danny Alexander, Mark Henderson, Neil Irwin and Daniel Tully return to the team.
Omagh v Instonians
Head coach Philip Marshall will have been pleased his Omagh team put up a strong performance at Upritchard Park in midweek before losing 31-3 to league leaders Bangor. He had fourteen players unavailable and will see his players face their third game in eight days when league champions Instonians make the trip to the Thomas Mellon playing fields on Saturday.
Omagh returns to Upritchard Park in a fortnight to play Bangor again in the semi-final of the Towns’ Cup. Omagh had ambitions to finish in the Top Four but following defeats in the last week to Ballyclare and Bangor it will face an uphill task to overtake Ballyclare, Clogher Valley and Portadown.
Instonians have five matches remaining in pursuit of retaining the league title, but had to dig deep to rule out potential challengers Clogher Valley 10-7 at Shaw’s Bridge last week. Head Coach William Leacock was at Upritchard Park to watch Bangor beat fifth-placed Omagh in midweek and go top-of-the-table. He says Bangor is a good side, able to call on the experience of David Bradford, Michael Ferguson, Jamie Clegg, Jason Guthrie and Jason Morgan.
Leacock knows what a good side Omagh is, how tough the well-organised Tyrone outfit is to counter, and the style of which it is capable. For the game this weekend No.8 Rory McCurry is ruled out with a shoulder injury and joins an ever-increasing injury list. Joe Fryers returns from illness, and Matthew Kilpatrick is available again.
These teams have already met twice this season at Shaw’s Bridge, Instonians winning the league encounter 40-8 in September, and coming through the Junior Cup semi-final 19-6 in November. After losing their All Ireland Junior Cup final against Enniscorthy, and the Junior Cup final against Bangor, Instonians is targeting seriously on keeping the league title.
FIXTURES
Ards v Ballyclare
CIYMS v Bangor
Clogher Valley v Dromore
Cooke v Portadown
Omagh v Instonians
Ards v Clogher Valley Wednesday, 2 March. Kick-off 7-45 p.m.
Kukri Qualifying Two
Academy v Larne
Head Coach Gareth Lynn is delighted with the performances of his Academy First Fifteen as it extended its winning run to five matches after defeating Belfast Harlequins 2nds 14-5 in the quarter-final of the McCrea Cup, with Keith and Kyle Dobbin scoring the vital tries and out half Chris Cooper adding the conversions.
Academy now faces Malone 2nds in the semi-final at Roughfort in two weeks, the prize a final at the Kingspan Stadium on Wednesday, 30 March. With seven league games to be played his aim is nothing less than seven wins, and this weekend he anticipates few changes from last Saturday’s team.
Larne Head Coach Ryan Milligan was not finalising his team until training on Thursday night, his squad nursing a few injuries from the match with league leaders Carrick which was lost 15-0. Milligan and his counterpart Lynn played together at Academy and are looking forward to locking horns.
For Milligan it has been a tough couple of months with injuries and unavailability, but with five matches remaining he has set his side a target of finishing in the Top Four. He’ll take some encouragement from the fact that when these two sides met at the Glynn in September his Larne outfit ran out convincing 57-19 winners.
Ballymoney v Coleraine
Putting the situation baldly Ballymoney coach James Carson has five league games remaining to keep his team in Qualifying Two, and his players are in a battle with Grosvenor and Lisburn to avoid finishing in the bottom two.
This weekend the opposition is provided by near neighbours and old ‘derby’ rivals Coleraine, a team pursuing promotion, involved in a contest with Carrickfergus to win the automatic promotion place with the second-placed team consigned to a play-off. When ‘Money and Coleraine met at Rugby Avenue on Boxing Day the home side, Coleraine, won decisively by 42-3.
Ballymoney welcomes back hooker Joel Heggarty to a full squad from which to select, thought prop Peter Irvine ruled out with a head injury. It’s a big weekend for Ballymoney with the 2nds involved in a Crawford Cup quarter-final at Larne. Training has been intense this week and coach Carson hopes the players carry that intensity into the match with Coleraine.
Carrickfergus v Grosvenor
Carrick Head Coach Neil Hanna was delighted his players responded to the home defeat by Academy by winning the ‘derby’ at Larne 15-0 last Saturday, and he’s hoping to have Ross Marsden available for inclusion in the starting XV against Grosvenor this weekend.
When these two sides met at Belmont in September Carrick won a high-scoring game 40-28, and with five games left to play are three points ahead of nearest rivals Coleraine, these sides due to meet in the final league game at Coleraine.
Grosvenor made the decision to replace Alasdair McKee by bringing in former coaches Andrew Gibson and Michael 'Waffle' Smyth in a caretaker capacity until the end of the season. Grosvenor sits 10th in the league, five points behind ninth-placed Ballymoney - and seven points behind Lisburn – but with a game in hand. The new coaching team suffered a narrow league defeat at Lisburn and lost to a last-minute score by Cooke in the McCrea Cup, so a win is increasingly wanted.
Donaghadee v Randalstown
‘Dee Head coach John West remains positive despite his team’s 48-3 defeat to Bangor in the Powerade Towns’ Cup last weekend, feeling his team competed well in the first half but, unfortunately, picked up a couple of injuries in the second half as Bangor's power and well-drilled team took control.
He was also pleased with the attitude and commitment of the players and feels Bangor has the benchmark to which his side must aspire. Donaghadee has eight games remaining and the coach will be looking for a strong finish to the season as he welcomes back the experienced Chris Good and Billy Allen for the visit of Randalstown.
Randalstown coach Gary Longwell is seeking a strong end-of-season run of seven league games, and knows how testing this Saturday’s trip to Donaldson Park can be, but he was pleased with his team’s second half performance in the 22-15 win over Lisburn last weekend. Longwell always gave his all as a player and he’ll demand the same from his squad at Donaghadee in the first league meeting between the two teams this season.
Lisburn v Enniskillen
Firsts’ manager Michael Knowles was disappointed his Lisburn team was not able to build on the promising start at Randalstown last weekend, but he took some positives from the way the players dug in and showed character to claim a losing bonus point.
The team for the visit of Enniskillen was to be finalised late this week, and as Falemaka Vave made his return from injury for the 2nds at the weekend and will come into consideration for selection along with second-row Jonny Davis. David Gilkinson is unavailable, and captain Tom Fraser is ruled out for the season.
Enniskillen Head Coach Norman Richmond was delighted with his team’s 16-0 win over Towns’ Cup holders Ballynahinch 2nds last Saturday, the reward a ‘derby’ semi-final at neighbours Clogher Valley in two weeks. But it’s back to league action this weekend, the coach aware that Lisburn is never an easy place to go to. His team will have to work hard for every point and hopefully get the result to maintain the pursuit of Coleraine and Carrickfergus at the top of the table.
The Enniskillen team is on similar lines to last weekend with Stevie Neill replacing the unavailable Zach Charlton, while Jamie Johnston returns to take his place on the bench with the coach keen to see his players maintain their momentum and focus in the coming weeks.
FIXTURES
Academy v Larne
Ballymoney v Coleraine
Carrickfergus v Grosvenor
Donaghadee v Randalstown
Lisburn v Enniskillen
Kukri Qualifying Three
BHSFP v Strabane
Civil Service v Monaghan
Letterkenny v PSNI
Limavady v Holywood
Lurgan v UUC
Newry v Ophir
Second XV League
Queen's 10-41 Malone
Belfast Harlequins v Ballynahinch
Similar concerns are just as predominant in the Ulster domestic scene, and in the Kukri Qualifying and other leagues the imminence of Spring always concentrates the minds of clubs across the Province.
With Ireland in the midst of the Six Nations, and Ulster’s professional side challenging for silverware, the next several weeks hold out the promise of all the ups-and-downs, the excitement and thrills which only sport can generate right across the age and gender spectrum.
It’s going to be a frantic few months, but enthralling and entertaining and putting rugby in Ulster firmly in the spotlight!
Ulster Bank All Ireland League
Division 1A
Ballynahinch v Old Belvedere
Despite losing 7-6 at Young Munster last weekend, despite a 6-0 half-time advantage, there is a real belief in the Ballynahinch camp that the players can still avoid the drop into Division 1B.
With four matches left to play ‘Hinch is five points behind ninth-placed Terenure College which has a game in hand. With Terenure College and Galwegians, in eighth, recording surprising wins over top four sides UCD and Garryowen last week there is added pressure on Ballynahinch's survival hopes. When Old Belvedere came to Ballymacarn Park in October the Dublin side won an entertaining match 34-24. But there is the talent in the backline and up front to reverse that result and give the ‘Hinch faithful a big away win boost on Saturday.
FIXTURES
Clontarf v Young Munster
Garryowen v Terenure College
Lansdowne v Galwegians
Old Belvedere v Ballynahinch
UCD v Cork Constitution
Division 1B
Ballymena v Shannon
The Eaton Park side suffered its third league defeat in a row at Blackrock College a week ago by 18-16. Despite the unavailability of 15 players Head Coach Andy Graham felt his team had enough opportunities to win, starting very badly but coming back strongly in the second quarter.
Unfortunately poor kicking options ultimately cost third-placed Ballymena a win, so the focus switches to the visit of Shannon, though at this stage Graham is unsure of his starting twenty for Saturday and will await news from Ulster on the players who may be released. Facing fitness tests are David Whann, Connor Smyth, James Beattie and Jordan Foster, while Mark Foster, Bryan Young and Callum Patterson are unavailable.
Ross Kane, John Creighton, Paddy McGowan, Michael Shiels, Chrissy Allen, Matty Rea and Aidy Kirkpatrick remain injured, and hooker Adam McBurney is involved with the Ireland Under 20s. If last Saturday was a missed opportunity this home clash with the Limerick side offers the opportunity for a league ‘double’, as Ballymena dug deep to win 22-19 at Thomond Park in October.
Belfast Harlequins v Buccaneers
The omens do not look good for bottom-of-the-table Belfast Harlequins retaining its place in Division 1B after the team suffered a heart-breaking 23-22 defeat at Dolphin in Cork last week, leaving the Deramore Park team fourteen points behind ninth-placed UL Bohemians with just four games remaining.
The Limerick hosts won 25-22 at Shannon on Friday night of last week as it battles for its own survival in Division 1B so for Harlequins and Ballynahinch a division above, the results on that Friday night did not go the way of the Ulster sides.
FIXTURES
Ballymena v Shannon
Buccaneers v Belfast Harlequins
Old Wesley v Dolphin
St Mary's College v Blackrock College
UL Bohemians v Dublin University
Division 2B
Sunday's Well v Rainey OB
Rainey OB Head Coach John Andrews has used the three weeks since his eighth-placed team defeated Armagh 21-10 to put his players through a mini pre-season to prepare for six back-to-back games in the AIL up to the first Saturday in April.
The break also helped enable several of his players - including Darren Corrigan, Jonny Lees and Stephen Rutledge - to recover from injury and put themselves in contention for inclusion in the squad this weekend. The games against Greystones, City of Derry and Armagh had put the squad in a good place and with two-thirds of its AIL programme completed the coaches and players have set themselves a points target for the remaining games.
Within the playing squad several of the young players have made significant progress with prop Tommy O'Hagan now training three days a week with the Ulster Academy. Andrews rates the 21-year-old, who is big and strong with a dynamic side to his play, and a former gaelic footballer who made the transition into the Ulster set-up. No.8 Darren Corrigan is another expected to be involved with the Ulster under 19/20 squad this summer after his first season playing All Ireland Rugby.
And there are many others in the squad at Hatricks where Ulster and Ireland centre Luke Marshall has joined the coaching team - with ambitions to play professional rugby and are progressing through the age-group structures. And the brothers John, Ronan and Michael McCusker and Andrew, Ciaran and Matthew Donaghy demonstrate the real family ‘feel’ in the group, while hooker Joe Roe has just completed a short trial at Munster.
So Rainey is providing opportunities for players to play in the AIL and giving aspiring young players the opportunity to play professional rugby.
For the first of two trips to Cork in the next three weeks the coach has been able to select from a strong squad to travel to fourth-placed Sunday’s Well. His starting XV this weekend includes a front row of Tommy O'Hagan, Joe Roe and Neil O'Kane, with Peter Stewart and Ronan McCusker in the second row. Jody McMurray continues at No.8 with Rory Winters and Jonny Lees making up the back row.
Andrew Donaghy and Gavin Martin are at half-back, with Damien McMurray and Simon Derby in the centre, Nicholas Stirling and Scott McLean on the wings and Josh McIIroy at full-back. Darren Corrigan makes his return from injury to take his place on the bench along with Ciaran Donaghy, Andrew Shaw, Bernard Mullan and Matthew McClelland.
When these two sides met at Hatrick Park in October Sundays Well were narrow 10 - 6 winners, so eighth-placed Rainey would like to reverse that result.
FIXTURES
Sunday's Well v Rainey OB
Kukri Qualifying League
Qualifying One
Ards v Ballyclare
In the first of back-to-back meetings in September at The Cloughan Ballyclare beat Ards in the league by 42-12, and ran out 24-0 Junior Cup victors the following week.
Ards find themselves ninth in the table with five games remaining, 17 points behind Dromore and facing the prospect of playing in a play-off against the second place team in Qualifying Two if it is to retain its place in the top junior tier. Facing three games in eight days – against Ballyclare, Clogher Valley on Wednesday of next week, and then Instonians - Director of Rugby Stephen Nutt is looking forward to this block of games.
He is not expecting too many changes to the starting XV from that which lost to Portadown, with Onisi Burekama and Nathan Graham added to the squad after injury and flanker Conran Stewart facing a late fitness test.
This week Ards announced that former Grosvenor coach Alasdair McKee has joined the coaching staff at Ards for the remainder of the season, just the start of an exciting phase at Hamilton Park despite continuing concerns about the future of the ground.
Fourth-placed Ballyclare is competing with Clogher Valley and Portadown to finish in the Top Four and qualify for the All Ireland Junior Cup, and with four games remaining it secured an important win over Omagh 26-8 at the Cloughan. Head Coach Mike McKeever’s aim is to win the four remaining matches, and is happy to have played two games more than Portadown and Clogher Valley rather than playing ‘catch-up’ rugby.
The coach will face several difficult selection issues this weekend with players including Robert Smith, Collie Morrow and Andrew Butler making themselves available, though it’s difficult to make changes to a team that secured the bonus point in the 26-8 win over Omagh last Saturday, Ryan Tweed and James Greer impressing.
CIYMS v Bangor
The signs are not good for the future of CIYMS in Qualifying One 1 with four games remaining, eight points behind ninth-placed Ards and its cause not helped by a 29-10 home defeat against Dromore last weekend. Head coach Gareth Fry has faced a season blighted by injuries and unavailability and plans to give several of his younger players a start this week against the league leaders Bangor.
Bangor won the corresponding match at Upritchard Park in September by 50-0, and returned to the top of the division this week with a five-try 31-3 demolition of Omagh. The trip to Belmont will mean a third game in eight days, last week’s 48-3 Powerade Towns’ Cup win over North Down rivals Donaghadee ensuring a third Cup semi-final this campaign.
This weekend Bangor has Orran McIImurray, Paddy Dornan and Philip Whyte in the front row, Michael Ferguson and Darren Kelly paired at lock, while Mike Weir joins David Bradford and captain Jamie Clegg in the back row. Jason Guthrie and No.10 Jason Morgan continue at half-back, and Desi Fusco returns from injury to partner Mark Widdowson in the centre. Davy Charles and Neil Cuthbertson are on the wings with Ross McCloskey at full-back.
Adam McCusker and Curtis Stewart take their places on the bench, but injury rules out centre Rob Gamble and Andrew Jackson, and second-row Craig Burton is unavailable.
Clogher Valley v Dromore
With seven league games left to be played by the end of March, a Towns’ Cup semi-final against neighbours Enniskillen in a fortnight, on there will be few opportunities for the players from fourth-placed Clogher Valley to rest. They face three games in eight days starting with Dromore on Saturday, followed by Ards on Wednesday night and CIYMS next weekend.
It’s hardly a new situation for a club which has learned to adapt to the hectic schedule fashioned by the successes of recent seasons. Any outside chance Clogher had of winning the league evaporated last Saturday in the narrow 10-7 loss to league champions Instonians.
In its 25th anniversary season the team will want to finish in the top four and bring back the Towns’ Cup to The Cran. Valley makes one change to the starting XV with prop Philip Moore ruled out for two weeks with an ankle injury, so he will be replaced by Philip Hopper, but injury continues to rule out Philip Holme.
When the sides met at Barban Hill in September the home side won a tight game by 8-7, and Dromore Head Coach Jonny Cullen has been disappointed his team has not been able to improve on its Top Four finish of last season. He is looking to the players to build on the 29-10 win at CIYMS last Saturday in their four remaining league matches.
Cooke v Portadown
All the ingredients are there for a huge contest at Shaw’s Bridge as Cooke needs a win to finish in the top four, while Portadown coach Richard Hedley wants his team to consolidate its third place in Qualifying One. Cooke’s Colin Atkinson will be without Sam Bridge, Andrew Nelson, Callum Robinson, David Marshall due to injury, with Russell Hunter, Daniel Dawson and Ian Anderson unavailable due to work commitments.
Philip Cartmill will return to skipper the side, but selection will not be finalised until very late in the week.
Portadown scored six tries in the convincing 38-12 win over Ards last weekend at Chambers Park, but injury rules out Willie Graham and Matthew Wilson, Robert Reid and Andrew Chambers are all unavailable. Danny Alexander, Mark Henderson, Neil Irwin and Daniel Tully return to the team.
Omagh v Instonians
Head coach Philip Marshall will have been pleased his Omagh team put up a strong performance at Upritchard Park in midweek before losing 31-3 to league leaders Bangor. He had fourteen players unavailable and will see his players face their third game in eight days when league champions Instonians make the trip to the Thomas Mellon playing fields on Saturday.
Omagh returns to Upritchard Park in a fortnight to play Bangor again in the semi-final of the Towns’ Cup. Omagh had ambitions to finish in the Top Four but following defeats in the last week to Ballyclare and Bangor it will face an uphill task to overtake Ballyclare, Clogher Valley and Portadown.
Instonians have five matches remaining in pursuit of retaining the league title, but had to dig deep to rule out potential challengers Clogher Valley 10-7 at Shaw’s Bridge last week. Head Coach William Leacock was at Upritchard Park to watch Bangor beat fifth-placed Omagh in midweek and go top-of-the-table. He says Bangor is a good side, able to call on the experience of David Bradford, Michael Ferguson, Jamie Clegg, Jason Guthrie and Jason Morgan.
Leacock knows what a good side Omagh is, how tough the well-organised Tyrone outfit is to counter, and the style of which it is capable. For the game this weekend No.8 Rory McCurry is ruled out with a shoulder injury and joins an ever-increasing injury list. Joe Fryers returns from illness, and Matthew Kilpatrick is available again.
These teams have already met twice this season at Shaw’s Bridge, Instonians winning the league encounter 40-8 in September, and coming through the Junior Cup semi-final 19-6 in November. After losing their All Ireland Junior Cup final against Enniscorthy, and the Junior Cup final against Bangor, Instonians is targeting seriously on keeping the league title.
FIXTURES
Ards v Ballyclare
CIYMS v Bangor
Clogher Valley v Dromore
Cooke v Portadown
Omagh v Instonians
Ards v Clogher Valley Wednesday, 2 March. Kick-off 7-45 p.m.
Kukri Qualifying Two
Academy v Larne
Head Coach Gareth Lynn is delighted with the performances of his Academy First Fifteen as it extended its winning run to five matches after defeating Belfast Harlequins 2nds 14-5 in the quarter-final of the McCrea Cup, with Keith and Kyle Dobbin scoring the vital tries and out half Chris Cooper adding the conversions.
Academy now faces Malone 2nds in the semi-final at Roughfort in two weeks, the prize a final at the Kingspan Stadium on Wednesday, 30 March. With seven league games to be played his aim is nothing less than seven wins, and this weekend he anticipates few changes from last Saturday’s team.
Larne Head Coach Ryan Milligan was not finalising his team until training on Thursday night, his squad nursing a few injuries from the match with league leaders Carrick which was lost 15-0. Milligan and his counterpart Lynn played together at Academy and are looking forward to locking horns.
For Milligan it has been a tough couple of months with injuries and unavailability, but with five matches remaining he has set his side a target of finishing in the Top Four. He’ll take some encouragement from the fact that when these two sides met at the Glynn in September his Larne outfit ran out convincing 57-19 winners.
Ballymoney v Coleraine
Putting the situation baldly Ballymoney coach James Carson has five league games remaining to keep his team in Qualifying Two, and his players are in a battle with Grosvenor and Lisburn to avoid finishing in the bottom two.
This weekend the opposition is provided by near neighbours and old ‘derby’ rivals Coleraine, a team pursuing promotion, involved in a contest with Carrickfergus to win the automatic promotion place with the second-placed team consigned to a play-off. When ‘Money and Coleraine met at Rugby Avenue on Boxing Day the home side, Coleraine, won decisively by 42-3.
Ballymoney welcomes back hooker Joel Heggarty to a full squad from which to select, thought prop Peter Irvine ruled out with a head injury. It’s a big weekend for Ballymoney with the 2nds involved in a Crawford Cup quarter-final at Larne. Training has been intense this week and coach Carson hopes the players carry that intensity into the match with Coleraine.
Carrickfergus v Grosvenor
Carrick Head Coach Neil Hanna was delighted his players responded to the home defeat by Academy by winning the ‘derby’ at Larne 15-0 last Saturday, and he’s hoping to have Ross Marsden available for inclusion in the starting XV against Grosvenor this weekend.
When these two sides met at Belmont in September Carrick won a high-scoring game 40-28, and with five games left to play are three points ahead of nearest rivals Coleraine, these sides due to meet in the final league game at Coleraine.
Grosvenor made the decision to replace Alasdair McKee by bringing in former coaches Andrew Gibson and Michael 'Waffle' Smyth in a caretaker capacity until the end of the season. Grosvenor sits 10th in the league, five points behind ninth-placed Ballymoney - and seven points behind Lisburn – but with a game in hand. The new coaching team suffered a narrow league defeat at Lisburn and lost to a last-minute score by Cooke in the McCrea Cup, so a win is increasingly wanted.
Donaghadee v Randalstown
‘Dee Head coach John West remains positive despite his team’s 48-3 defeat to Bangor in the Powerade Towns’ Cup last weekend, feeling his team competed well in the first half but, unfortunately, picked up a couple of injuries in the second half as Bangor's power and well-drilled team took control.
He was also pleased with the attitude and commitment of the players and feels Bangor has the benchmark to which his side must aspire. Donaghadee has eight games remaining and the coach will be looking for a strong finish to the season as he welcomes back the experienced Chris Good and Billy Allen for the visit of Randalstown.
Randalstown coach Gary Longwell is seeking a strong end-of-season run of seven league games, and knows how testing this Saturday’s trip to Donaldson Park can be, but he was pleased with his team’s second half performance in the 22-15 win over Lisburn last weekend. Longwell always gave his all as a player and he’ll demand the same from his squad at Donaghadee in the first league meeting between the two teams this season.
Lisburn v Enniskillen
Firsts’ manager Michael Knowles was disappointed his Lisburn team was not able to build on the promising start at Randalstown last weekend, but he took some positives from the way the players dug in and showed character to claim a losing bonus point.
The team for the visit of Enniskillen was to be finalised late this week, and as Falemaka Vave made his return from injury for the 2nds at the weekend and will come into consideration for selection along with second-row Jonny Davis. David Gilkinson is unavailable, and captain Tom Fraser is ruled out for the season.
Enniskillen Head Coach Norman Richmond was delighted with his team’s 16-0 win over Towns’ Cup holders Ballynahinch 2nds last Saturday, the reward a ‘derby’ semi-final at neighbours Clogher Valley in two weeks. But it’s back to league action this weekend, the coach aware that Lisburn is never an easy place to go to. His team will have to work hard for every point and hopefully get the result to maintain the pursuit of Coleraine and Carrickfergus at the top of the table.
The Enniskillen team is on similar lines to last weekend with Stevie Neill replacing the unavailable Zach Charlton, while Jamie Johnston returns to take his place on the bench with the coach keen to see his players maintain their momentum and focus in the coming weeks.
FIXTURES
Academy v Larne
Ballymoney v Coleraine
Carrickfergus v Grosvenor
Donaghadee v Randalstown
Lisburn v Enniskillen
Kukri Qualifying Three
BHSFP v Strabane
Civil Service v Monaghan
Letterkenny v PSNI
Limavady v Holywood
Lurgan v UUC
Newry v Ophir
Second XV League
Queen's 10-41 Malone
Belfast Harlequins v Ballynahinch