Ards v Ballynahinch
Banbridge v Belfast Harlequins
City of Derry v Dungannon
POWERADE TOWNS CUP
Donaghadee v Carrickfergus
You can expect the Donaghadee supporters to come out in their hundreds for this mouth watering tie at Donaldson Park. Several weeks ago it was all doom and gloom for Player/Coach Paul McKenzie and his players as they looked for their first league win, but three wins on the trot against Ballyclare, Portadown and Holywood has reinvigorated this club. Can the 1st XV keep this winning run up? The prizes are securing their 1st XV status in Q1 with four matches remaining and against all the odds reaching another Powerade Towns Cup final. What an achievement this would be for their senior players, Gareth Gordon, Chris Good, Paul Blewitt and Billy Allen who just keep on playing. Carickfergus still believe they can achieve a league and Cup double in their 150th Anniversary season. They are in a good position to upset another Q1 club after defeating neighbours Ballyclare. All the ingredients are there for what should be a fast and furious game of rugby over 80 minutes.
Clogher Valley v Armagh 2nds
Once again cup fever has gripped the faithful at the Cran in Fivemiletown as they aim to make another trip to Kingspan Stadium to retain the Towns Cup. Clogher coaches Glen Kyle and Davy Black have been there before and will ensure their players are not complacent. Outhalf Philip Holme will be out for 2/3 weeks after being injured in the league match at Dromore last Saturday. Captain Aaron Best fills the void, with Mark Ellis stepping in to take over at scrumhalf. Centre Nathan Orr and back row Allister Tenier retaining their places. The Armagh side will have other ideas after knocking out Millar McCall Wylie Junior Cup finalists Omagh and All Ireland Junior Cup finalists Bangor in previous rounds. The astute Clive Bowles will have a full squad available as his Armagh team look to emulate the achievements of the 1st XV in the All Ireland League and Ulster Senior League.
Enniskillen v Ballynahinch 2nds
Junior Cup semi finalists Enniskillen will have ambitions to go one step further and reach the Towns Cup Final. For their opponents Ballynahinch the Towns Cup has been the ‘Holy Grail’ they look to win every season. On their home pitch at Mullaghmeen the Skins team will provide stern opposition for their County Down visitors. Having missed out on contending for promotion this season to rivals Omagh, Head coach Norman Richmond will want to see his players rewarded for their efforts this season. Captain Jamie Johnston along with the experienced backs Nicky Finlay, Alan Wilkinson and Chris McVitty will have key roles to play on Saturday. They did dispose of a strong Ballymena 2nd XV in the quarter finals of the Junior Cup and will require a similar performance to defeat ‘Hinch 2nds. Again, expect no quarter to be given by either side in front of what is sure to be a large partisan crowd.
Ballymena 2nds v Portadown
On paper you would have to say the Braidmen would have to be favourites. Portadown have lost their last six league games, but recorded two excellent wins over Dromore and Limavady in earlier rounds of the Towns Cup. Ballymena have considerable strength in depth and have ambitions to see their 2nd XV bring the Towns Cup back to Eaton Park. Portadown coach Richard Hedley restores Peter Lamb and John Graham to the pack, with Robert Reid moving to the centre. He has experienced players in back row forwards Gareth McCoy and Diarmuid O'Kane who can guide the team through this difficult fixture.
McCREA CUP
Grosvenor v Cooke
On paper a Cooke win looks likely. But this is the cup and anything can happen, as Grosvenor proved when beating the Shaw’s Bridge outfit in this competition last season. The Belmont Road side went one to win the trophy and will not want to relinquish their title without a fight. As is the case with the McCrea Cup, it gives teams in the Greater Belfast area a real opportunity to play in a final at the Kingspan Stadium. Cooke Player/Coach Colin Atkinson felt his team under-performed against a clinical Instonians side last Saturday, going down 32-6. For this weekend’s game, winger Andy Pollock and second row Brian Mannus will return, but injuries will rule out scrumhalf Gareth Robinson and centre Kyle Mitchell. The coach is also planning to give a debut to young scrumhalf Matthew Elliott. A difficult game to call.
Instonians v Queens 2nds
Another cup tie that will bring the supporters out in their hundreds at Shaw’s Bridge. Despite the distraction of the Six Nations last Saturday, the supporters turned out in large numbers for the derby match between Cooke and Instonians. Inst coach William Leacock will once again rotate his starting XV, as they did in the Junior Cup. Injuries rule out props Fergal Lynch and Alan Whitten for four weeks, while second row Erin Wagner remains a long term injury doubt and fullback Robbie Kirk is unavailable. With lots of games coming up the coach will rest Robert Whitten, Sebastiono Fallo, Glen Baxter, David Scott, Brian Hughes, Fraser Wright, Marcus Hart and Matthew Keane for the game on Saturday. He watached his 2nd XV defeat a strong CIYMS team during the week (21-9) and will be bringing in Lewis Jones, Conor Gallagher, Harry Martin, Michael Blackwood, Rory McCurry, Ben Scott, Michael Melville and Andrew Keane for this match as he strengthens his 1st XV playing squad. Queen’s coach Chris Moore is hoping his talented charges can upset the form book and win at Shaw’s Bridge. It should be a thrilling game for the spectators who will see two highly talented and skilful sides looking to move the ball at every opportunity.
Malone 2nds v CIYMS
Head coach Gareth Fry will be hoping his CIYMS side can put one over his old club when they travel to Gibson Park on Saturday. The Malone team will depend on players returning from injury. CIYMS were favourites to win the McCrea Cup last season and were swept aside by the underdogs Grosvenor in the final. Their goal this season is to finish in the top four of Q1 and qualify for the All Ireland Junior Cup. Expect a competitive match between these two sides with a few former Malone players lining out for CI.
KUKRI QUALIFYING LEAGUE 2
Coleraine v Lisburn
KUKRI QUALIFYING LEAGUE 3
Ophir v Strabane
KUKRI QUALIFYING LEAGUE 4
Letterkenny v Londonderry YMCA
Cavan v Virginia