Club Rugby Preview - 17 Nov 2018

A preview of this weekend’s Kukri Ulster Rugby Championship action… KUKRI ULSTER RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP DIV 1 CIYMS v Portadown Carrickfergus v Dromore Grosvenor v Enniskillen Instonians v Coleraine CIYMS v Portadown Despite their heroic performance at Clonmel in the All Ireland Junior Cup CIYMS coaches Gareth Fry and Darren Barbour were without up to 12 players last weekend. Injuries and unavailability again will determine selection for this crucial league match with Portadown at Belmont on Saturday. CIYMS are still seeking their first league win as both teams need the points to avoid 9th and 10th place. CIYMS selection will not be finalised until Thursday night. Portadown Head coach Richard Hedley will finalise his selection on Thursday night. Hooker Robert Reid is unavailable with full back Jack Orr ruled out due to injury. Several players are carrying knocks from the league win over Coleraine two weeks ago. Carrickfergus v Dromore Carrickfergus coaches Davy Scott and Michael Rainey will be looking to end the teams three match losing run against Ballyclare, Waterpark and Grosvenor when they welcome second place Dromore to the Tom Simms Memorial Grounds. Dromore coaches Jonny Cullen and Jamie Kirk will be hoping the five point deduction the team suffered will not impact on their performance at Carrickfergus this week. With an appeal pending their team will be looking to keep the pressure on Ballyclare with both teams due to meet at Barban Hill on the 29th December. Games coming up against Carrickfergus, Portadown, Grosvenor and Ballyclare could determine their league ambitions this season. Hooker Fraser Mulholland makes a long awaited return to the team starting on the bench. Andrew Rutledge returns from injury and will replace Graeme McCandless in the centre. Grosvenor v Enniskillen Head coach Robert Ford was disappointed to see his side lose their match with Instonians two weeks ago. He felt his players lacked that bit of composure at key times in the game. Centre Stuart McIIwaine and prop Pearce Jamison are unavailable this week with winger Davy Egner likely to be in contention for a starting place after returning from injury. Enniskillen Head coach Stevie Welsh welcomes back James Carleton to the pack this week. Centre Mark O’Shea is unavailable with winger Jarlath Maguire ruled out with a fractured hand. He felt his side let themselves down against Cooke when they were in control of the game. He is looking for a reaction from his players this week. Instonians v Coleraine Instonians Director of Rugby Anthony McKibben felt there was a sense of relief when the team came through in a late 18 -14 win at Grosvenor two weeks ago. With two home games coming up against Coleraine this weekend and leaders Ballyclare on the 1st December there is an opportunity for the Instonians playing squad to narrow the lead of Ballyclare. For the Instonians players it is all about winning their remaining league games following their opening day defeat at Dromore. They know to achieve their goal they will have to defeat Ballyclare home and away and Dromore and Grosvenor at home. The focus for the players is securing maximum points against 10th place Coleraine at Shaws bridge. For the game this weekend centre Matthew Kilpatrick who scored two tries against Grosvenor will be unavailable along with prop Alan Whitten.  Michael Melville who returned from injury in the Grosvenor match had to leave the pitch with a reoccurring elbow injury that will rule him out to the new year. Winger Ross O’Donnell who was red carded in the Grosvenor match has been suspended for 4 weeks.  Hooker Cameron Barr and number 8 James Martin picked up injuries in the Grosvenor game have come through training this week to be available for selection. Gareth Burns – Delaney and Tom Matthews will also be in contention for a starting place this week. Players who have impressed for the seconds including Daryl Smith, Jack Scott and Jonny Mooney are players who will come into contention for selection this week. The Instonians coaches John Andress and Paul Marshall have options with selections with Cameron Barr able to play hooker/backrow, Suspended Ross O’Donnell who can play scrum half/winger, Paddy Bell who can play centre/back row. Paul Marshall who can play scrum half, out half and full back. For Anthony McKibben this week is all about the team focusing on the Coleraine game. It is understanding the need to win and pick up the bonus point. The team had difficult games with Coleraine last season and will expect no less from them despite their 10th place. He has faith in this squad that they can achieve the goals and objectives the squad set for themselves at the start of the season. KUKRI ULSTER RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP/CONF DIV 1 Ballyclare v City of Armagh Ballynahinch seconds v Cooke DUDLEY CUP Queens University v UCD. Played Friday 16.11.18. KO 7.00PM