The Ulster club game has not disappointed when showcased at Kingspan Stadium in recent weeks, with the scores and skills on show caching the eye.
CLUB RUGBY ROUND UP
There were eight tries in Bangor’s nail-biting Powerade Towns’ Cup Final against Enniskillen, while Ballynahinch 3rds ran in the same number in the 51-0 Crawford Cup Final defeat of Banbridge 3rds.
On Wednesday it was the turn of Cooke and Malone 2nds to turn on the power, seven tries in all in a 29-22 win for Head Coach Colin Atkinson’s Shaw’s Bridge outfit. Winger Andrew Pollock was once again the star of the show scoring three tries for Cooke, to follow up the four tries he scored in last season’s narrow defeat to Queen’s University 2nds.
Malone centre Nathan Brown was another stand-out performer, contributing 17 of his side’s 22 points. The players and coaches - and the fans who came to Kingspan Stadium for these end-of-season deciders deserve so much credit for providing some compelling - and positive - rugby football.
There were celebrations well into the night at Woodburn on Saturday as player-coach Neil Hanna guided Carrickfergus to the Kukri Qualifying Two title with a display of smart, focussed rugby in a rugged but ultimately convincing win at challengers Coleraine in front of a big Sandel Lodge crowd.
We also extend our congratulations to Carrick Head coach Neil Hanna and his players on winning Qualifying Two and securing automatic promotion to Q1 next season. Neil will understand that Qualifying One will demand more of his club and with his shrewd assessment of resources he’ll already be planning to recruit and add to a solid base.
It’s Hanna’s final season as a player, and it’s a fitting way to go out - now he’ll want to find a hooker who can maintain the superb set-piece to which he’s been central.
Congratulations also to Ballymena, who secured the Ulster Senior League title on Thursday night after a comprehensive win over City of Derry. Just reward for an excellent season.
Last weekend in the Ulster Bank All Ireland League the Section One clubs completed their penultimate matches with the final games to be staged on Saturday, 16 April. Ballynahinch still cling to an outside chance of finishing in ninth place and making the play-offs to survive at the top level.
‘Hinch plays Garryowen at home with the current ninth-placed side, Galwegians, travelling to Cork to play Constitution with the home side fighting it out with Young Munster to finish in second place to secure a home semi-final in the DIV 1A play-offs.
‘Hinch has a points deficit of 141, whereas Galwegians has a 97-point advantage, so a win - with a bonus point - and the - points advantage swinging in its favour can provide a lifeline for the Ballymacarn faithful. Is there another ‘Great Escape’ in the ‘Hinch locker on Saturday of next week?
Both Ballymena and Belfast Harlequins suffered defeats against Dolphin and UL Bohemians respectively. The Braidmen are safe in third place and will play second-placed Dublin University in the play-offs at College Park, Dublin, on Saturday 23rd April.
Belfast Harlequins had already been relegated and will play its rugby in Division 2A next season, but Deramore is full of ambition and will be determined for a quick return to the elite.
In Section Two it was a day of drama, as in Division 2A Banbridge had to dig deep to defeat fellow Ulster side Malone 16-10 at Rifle Park to secure second place and a home semi-final against UCC in the play-offs on the 16 April. Queen’s completed a disappointing season losing 21-7 at home to Galway Corinthians who avoided the play-offs by finishing in eighth place, just out of the ‘danger zone’.
City of Derry, with its points advantage, needed a win against Barnhall to secure the automatic promotion place in Division 2B, but despite the 24-7 win the bonus point proved elusive. Derry then learned that Cork side Highfield had brushed aside Bective Rangers 59-7 to secure the automatic promotion place on a better points difference.
So City of Derry, having set the pace for so long, will now host Cork side Sunday's Well at home in the first semi-final playoff on Saturday of next week in a bid to get the promotion it worked so hard for before an unprecedented collapse since the New Year.
Both Dungannon and Armagh put on a thrilling encounter with the Orchard county side the victors by 30-22 win to finish ahead of Barnhall and Dungannon in fifth place. Rainey OB disappointed in its final home game against bottom side Seapoint losing 20-15: not the result Head coach John Andrews was looking for with Rainey facing Greystones at Hatrick Park next weekend to retain its place in Division 2B next season.
In the AIL ‘round-robin’ qualifying tournament Ulster representatives Bangor recorded an impressive 24-7 bonus point win over Connacht’s Westport at Upritchard Park last Saturday. This weekend the North Down side travels to Leinster winners Enniscorthy.
The Leinster side’s match at Clonmel was postponed last Saturday and has been re-arranged for Tuesday of next week, and that means those two sides will play three games in eight days, with the ‘round-robin’ runners-up travelling to play Sligo for a place in Division 2C next season on Saturday 23rd April.
It’s a decisive time for Bangor, which has swept all before it in Ulster’s Junior game this season, and player-coach Jason Morgan will hope to coax a few more performances out of his squad
The teams who finish in ninth place in Qualifying League One, To and Three will be hoping Bangor return to the All-Ireland League - that would mean those ninth-placed sides would retain their places in their respective leagues - though they will go through the play-off games scheduled for next Saturday and two weeks hence.
It will also mean that the teams who finish second in Qualifying Two and Three will be automatically promoted. Confusing? Maybe, but it means there’s still much to play for.
The irony is that the rugby power base in North Down is now returned to Bangor, and both Ards and Donaghadee are looking to Bangor to prevent their relegations from Qualifying One and Two respectively. Ards was relegated from the AIL in 2014/15, and Donaghadee demoted from Qualifying One in 2014/15.
In the Kukri Qualifying Leagues the final game to be played in Qualifying One will see a County Tyrone ‘derby’ at the Thomas Mellon Playing Fields this Saturday, though in this 'dead rubber' Omagh and Clogher Valley will be playing for pride and ‘bragging rights’ only.
Portadown finished their season with a 38-7 win over Clogher Valley at Chambers Park to claim fifth spot and a possible place in the All-Ireland Junior Cup next season. James Carleton (2), Gareth McCoy, Johnny McClure, Ryan Purvis and Aaron Morton were the try-scorers, with Ryan Purvis adding four conversions.
It’s in Qualifying Two where the really fascination all the action is. Last weekend Carrickfergus defeated Coleraine 23-11 to win the league with one game remaining, so the focus switched to who will finish in second place. Coleraine travelled to Enniskillen on Tuesday night needing a win to secure that slot, but the north coast side suffered its second defeat in four days in losing 14-7 at Mullaghmeen.
That now means Coleraine has completed its league programme and sit eight points ahead of third-placed Enniskillen which still has two games to play: against Randalstown this Saturday, and then against champions Carrickfergus at Mullaghmeen on Tuesday night of next week. Enniskillen needs nine points from these remaining games to secure that precious runners-up spot.
To add intrigue to the situation, if Enniskillen and Coleraine were to finish level on points a play-off between the sides would be required!
It’s a dramatic finale to the Qualifying Two season, with either Coleraine or Enniskillen travelling to play Ards at Hamilton Park on Saturday of next week to decide which team will play in Qualifying One year.
The action in Qualifying Two is not only confined to the top-of-the-table. The relegation of Ballymoney was confirmed after the 22-13 defeat at Grosvenor last week, and that follows demotion from Qualifying One just twelve months ago for the Kilraughts club.
Five points now separate Donaghadee (22pts), in that perilous ninth place, Grosvenor (25), and Lisburn (27) in seventh. Grosvenor and Lisburn would appear to be the ‘form’ teams, with Donaghadee really struggling to pick up those vital points to move out of the ‘danger zone’.
In Qualifying Three Limavady, with two games remaining, is just two points shy of its ambitious target of 100, having won all 20 of its matches. It’s a remarkable remarkable achievement for the North-West side, and a great fillip to all at the Hunter Memorial Grounds.
MATCH PREVIEWS
(All games are to be played on Saturday at 2.30pm unless otherwise stated)
ULSTER BANK ALL IRELAND LEAGUE QUALIFYING 'ROUND ROBIN'
Bangor v Enniscorthy
These two sides have already met twice in recent seasons in the All-Ireland Junior Cup, each side recording a win with home advantage. Enniscorthy has never lost to an Ulster side at their Ross Road base, so Bangor’s challenge is to break that pattern and maintain its ‘push’ for the return of AIL rugby to Upritchard Park.
When these two teams met at Ross Road in December Enniscorthy ran our very convincing 23-5 winners in the semi-final of the All-Ireland Junior Cup.
The squad in December is much different to the one which travels this weekend with the panel very much at full strength. There will be nine personnel changes from December, eleven changes in all.
Bangor travels with a 22-man squad which will be finalised after training late in the week. Bangor is well aware Enniscorthy faces three games in eight days after their opening match at Clonmel was postponed, but that won’t affect the focussed approach Jason Morgan has imbued in his history-making outfit.
KUKRI QUALIFYING LEAGUE 1
Omagh v Clogher Valley
These two sides drew 13-13 at the Cran two weeks ago that finished 13-13, a . result which Omagh Head Coach Philip Marshall didn’t want as a win would have given his team an outside chance of finishing in fifth place to qualify for the AIL Junior Cup next season. McCrea Cup holders Cooke currently occupy sixth place, three points ahead of Omagh.
Clogher coaches Glen Kyle and Davy Black have selection headaches this Saturday with several of the 1st XV players on social duties which have taken priority. Injuries have plagued the squad in recent weeks and several new faces have made their first appearances. There will be the opportunity for several more players to experience Qualifying League rugby this weekend as the coaches continue the development of the First XV squad for next season. Clogher Valley suffered a heavy 38-7 defeat at Portadown last weekend, so the coaching team will be aim to end the season with a good performance against familiar ‘derby’ opposition.
KUKRI QUALIFYING LEAGUE 2
Lisburn v Academy
The Blaris side has used home advantage to record home wins over Ballymoney by 44-0, and Donaghadee by 36-0, to move out of the bottom two places.
Academy will be difficult opponents as they target a fifth-place finish above Larne, with two games remaining. They lost 22 -14 at Enniskillen last Saturday and will want to halt its three-match losing run.
Lisburn 1st XV Manager Michael Knowles is hoping his players can maintain their form of recent weeks as, mathematically, Donaghadee can still overhaul his side. He is pleased the team is scoring tries and is even more pleased the team has kept two clean sheets in succession. Saturday will be another cup final at Blaris for the club and its players who cannot dwell on recent indifferent performances.
Few changes are expected from last weekend’s line-up, and though centre David Gilkinson is unavailable winger Ross Reaney, who scored three tries against Ballymoney, is expected to return to the squad.
When these two sides meet in the corresponding fixture in November at Roughfort Academy won 22-7.
Grosvenor v Donaghadee
In the first of its three remaining league fixtures to be played at its new home at Gibson Park Grosvenor defeated Ballymoney 22-13 and will be hope to follow that performance up with wins, over the next eight days, over Donaghadee and Randalstown to secure its place in Qualifying Two next season.
Opponents Donaghadee has lost its last five league games and will find it difficult to pick up points in the three remaining games: away at Grosvenor, Randalstown and Academy.
For ‘Dee Head coach John West it has been an uphill battle for the players in recent weeks, and he’s acutely aware that with three games to play the team can avoid finishing in that dreaded ninth place.
Selection has become more difficult with his small playing squad so he was disappointed to see newly-recruited Connor McKee, from Bangor Grammar, pick up a serious injury last week at Lisburn which will rule him out for the rest of the season. The experienced Gareth Gordon returns this week, though the coach will wait until late in the week to finalise his 17 players for the weekend.
When these two sides met at Donaldson Park in October Donaghadee won narrowly by 19-17 winners.
Randalstown v Enniskillen
With so much at stake for Enniskillen this is a ‘must win’ game if it is to achieve its ambition of finishing second and making the play-off against Ards. With the Qualifying Two fixture programme to be completed by Saturday of next week Randalstown must play three matches in eight days: Enniskillen, followed by Donaghadee next Wednesday night, and a trip to Gibson Park to play Grosvenor. No easy games with so much to play for in each of these matches.
Randalstown Head Coach Gary Longwell and his assistant Alistair Strange are hoping for a strong finish to the season in preparation for 2016/17, as there is a real belief at Nelisbrook Park that the playing squad is now strong enough to mount a real challenge for promotion to Qualifying One next year. Enniskillen is in a great run of form so it will be a great test for a young and developing side.
Enniskillen is facing four games in eleven days - and possibly five in 15 days if they make the play-off against Ards. Bangor was placed in the same situation recently, and made light of playing six games in just over a fortnight, and that confirms that success comes at the expected price, teams having to play in a highly competitive and congested fixture programme.
Enniskillen Head Coach Norman Richmond is aware of the task his players face at Randalstown, and during his tenure he has yet to secure that elusive first away win against this opposition. Aware Randalstown would relish the ‘scalp’ of ‘Skins’ in its pursuit of a third-place finish in Richmond is expecting another difficult and physical game after the match with Coleraine at Mullaghmeen on Tuesday night.
He awaits news on the availability of a couple of players to see if he can travel at full-strength but will not finalise his travelling squad until later in the week. Former Portora Royal scrum-half Ben Parkinson continues to partner Adam Lendrum (pictured) in the absence of Nick Finlay. When these two teams met at Mullaghmeen in November Enniskillen won 18-11.
NOTE: Due to a rugby festival at Randalstown on Saturday this key game has been switched to the playing fields at Antrim Grammar School.
Additional fixtures:
Enniskillen v Carrickfergus, Tuesday, kick-off 8pm
Randalstown v Donaghadee, Wednesday, kick-off 7pm
KUKRI QUALIFYING LEAGUE 3
BHSFP v Limavady
Holywood v Lurgan
Ophir v Civil Service
PSNI v Monaghan
Strabane v Letterkenny
UUC v Newry
PSNI v BHSFP, Wednesday, kick-off 6.45pm
2nd XV LEAGUE
Ballynahinch v Banbridge
Ballynahinch v Malone, Wednesday, kick-off 7.30pm
HALL CUP
Ballyclare v Larne
This is an annual fixture played between these two clubs, Larne being the current holders having won at the Glynn last season.
Usually there are two fixtures, involving the clubs’ First and Second XV sides, with the aggregate score winning. This year only the clubs' 1st XV teams will compete for the Hall Cup as both clubs’ 2nd XVs compete in the same league. No doubt a fixture and local ‘derby’ that will attract a large crowd to the Cloughan this weekend and have a suitably relaxed end-of-season ‘feel’!
CLUB RUGBY ROUND UP
There were eight tries in Bangor’s nail-biting Powerade Towns’ Cup Final against Enniskillen, while Ballynahinch 3rds ran in the same number in the 51-0 Crawford Cup Final defeat of Banbridge 3rds.
On Wednesday it was the turn of Cooke and Malone 2nds to turn on the power, seven tries in all in a 29-22 win for Head Coach Colin Atkinson’s Shaw’s Bridge outfit. Winger Andrew Pollock was once again the star of the show scoring three tries for Cooke, to follow up the four tries he scored in last season’s narrow defeat to Queen’s University 2nds.
Malone centre Nathan Brown was another stand-out performer, contributing 17 of his side’s 22 points. The players and coaches - and the fans who came to Kingspan Stadium for these end-of-season deciders deserve so much credit for providing some compelling - and positive - rugby football.
There were celebrations well into the night at Woodburn on Saturday as player-coach Neil Hanna guided Carrickfergus to the Kukri Qualifying Two title with a display of smart, focussed rugby in a rugged but ultimately convincing win at challengers Coleraine in front of a big Sandel Lodge crowd.
We also extend our congratulations to Carrick Head coach Neil Hanna and his players on winning Qualifying Two and securing automatic promotion to Q1 next season. Neil will understand that Qualifying One will demand more of his club and with his shrewd assessment of resources he’ll already be planning to recruit and add to a solid base.
It’s Hanna’s final season as a player, and it’s a fitting way to go out - now he’ll want to find a hooker who can maintain the superb set-piece to which he’s been central.
Congratulations also to Ballymena, who secured the Ulster Senior League title on Thursday night after a comprehensive win over City of Derry. Just reward for an excellent season.
Last weekend in the Ulster Bank All Ireland League the Section One clubs completed their penultimate matches with the final games to be staged on Saturday, 16 April. Ballynahinch still cling to an outside chance of finishing in ninth place and making the play-offs to survive at the top level.
‘Hinch plays Garryowen at home with the current ninth-placed side, Galwegians, travelling to Cork to play Constitution with the home side fighting it out with Young Munster to finish in second place to secure a home semi-final in the DIV 1A play-offs.
‘Hinch has a points deficit of 141, whereas Galwegians has a 97-point advantage, so a win - with a bonus point - and the - points advantage swinging in its favour can provide a lifeline for the Ballymacarn faithful. Is there another ‘Great Escape’ in the ‘Hinch locker on Saturday of next week?
Both Ballymena and Belfast Harlequins suffered defeats against Dolphin and UL Bohemians respectively. The Braidmen are safe in third place and will play second-placed Dublin University in the play-offs at College Park, Dublin, on Saturday 23rd April.
Belfast Harlequins had already been relegated and will play its rugby in Division 2A next season, but Deramore is full of ambition and will be determined for a quick return to the elite.
In Section Two it was a day of drama, as in Division 2A Banbridge had to dig deep to defeat fellow Ulster side Malone 16-10 at Rifle Park to secure second place and a home semi-final against UCC in the play-offs on the 16 April. Queen’s completed a disappointing season losing 21-7 at home to Galway Corinthians who avoided the play-offs by finishing in eighth place, just out of the ‘danger zone’.
City of Derry, with its points advantage, needed a win against Barnhall to secure the automatic promotion place in Division 2B, but despite the 24-7 win the bonus point proved elusive. Derry then learned that Cork side Highfield had brushed aside Bective Rangers 59-7 to secure the automatic promotion place on a better points difference.
So City of Derry, having set the pace for so long, will now host Cork side Sunday's Well at home in the first semi-final playoff on Saturday of next week in a bid to get the promotion it worked so hard for before an unprecedented collapse since the New Year.
Both Dungannon and Armagh put on a thrilling encounter with the Orchard county side the victors by 30-22 win to finish ahead of Barnhall and Dungannon in fifth place. Rainey OB disappointed in its final home game against bottom side Seapoint losing 20-15: not the result Head coach John Andrews was looking for with Rainey facing Greystones at Hatrick Park next weekend to retain its place in Division 2B next season.
In the AIL ‘round-robin’ qualifying tournament Ulster representatives Bangor recorded an impressive 24-7 bonus point win over Connacht’s Westport at Upritchard Park last Saturday. This weekend the North Down side travels to Leinster winners Enniscorthy.
The Leinster side’s match at Clonmel was postponed last Saturday and has been re-arranged for Tuesday of next week, and that means those two sides will play three games in eight days, with the ‘round-robin’ runners-up travelling to play Sligo for a place in Division 2C next season on Saturday 23rd April.
It’s a decisive time for Bangor, which has swept all before it in Ulster’s Junior game this season, and player-coach Jason Morgan will hope to coax a few more performances out of his squad
The teams who finish in ninth place in Qualifying League One, To and Three will be hoping Bangor return to the All-Ireland League - that would mean those ninth-placed sides would retain their places in their respective leagues - though they will go through the play-off games scheduled for next Saturday and two weeks hence.
It will also mean that the teams who finish second in Qualifying Two and Three will be automatically promoted. Confusing? Maybe, but it means there’s still much to play for.
The irony is that the rugby power base in North Down is now returned to Bangor, and both Ards and Donaghadee are looking to Bangor to prevent their relegations from Qualifying One and Two respectively. Ards was relegated from the AIL in 2014/15, and Donaghadee demoted from Qualifying One in 2014/15.
In the Kukri Qualifying Leagues the final game to be played in Qualifying One will see a County Tyrone ‘derby’ at the Thomas Mellon Playing Fields this Saturday, though in this 'dead rubber' Omagh and Clogher Valley will be playing for pride and ‘bragging rights’ only.
Portadown finished their season with a 38-7 win over Clogher Valley at Chambers Park to claim fifth spot and a possible place in the All-Ireland Junior Cup next season. James Carleton (2), Gareth McCoy, Johnny McClure, Ryan Purvis and Aaron Morton were the try-scorers, with Ryan Purvis adding four conversions.
It’s in Qualifying Two where the really fascination all the action is. Last weekend Carrickfergus defeated Coleraine 23-11 to win the league with one game remaining, so the focus switched to who will finish in second place. Coleraine travelled to Enniskillen on Tuesday night needing a win to secure that slot, but the north coast side suffered its second defeat in four days in losing 14-7 at Mullaghmeen.
That now means Coleraine has completed its league programme and sit eight points ahead of third-placed Enniskillen which still has two games to play: against Randalstown this Saturday, and then against champions Carrickfergus at Mullaghmeen on Tuesday night of next week. Enniskillen needs nine points from these remaining games to secure that precious runners-up spot.
To add intrigue to the situation, if Enniskillen and Coleraine were to finish level on points a play-off between the sides would be required!
It’s a dramatic finale to the Qualifying Two season, with either Coleraine or Enniskillen travelling to play Ards at Hamilton Park on Saturday of next week to decide which team will play in Qualifying One year.
The action in Qualifying Two is not only confined to the top-of-the-table. The relegation of Ballymoney was confirmed after the 22-13 defeat at Grosvenor last week, and that follows demotion from Qualifying One just twelve months ago for the Kilraughts club.
Five points now separate Donaghadee (22pts), in that perilous ninth place, Grosvenor (25), and Lisburn (27) in seventh. Grosvenor and Lisburn would appear to be the ‘form’ teams, with Donaghadee really struggling to pick up those vital points to move out of the ‘danger zone’.
In Qualifying Three Limavady, with two games remaining, is just two points shy of its ambitious target of 100, having won all 20 of its matches. It’s a remarkable remarkable achievement for the North-West side, and a great fillip to all at the Hunter Memorial Grounds.
MATCH PREVIEWS
(All games are to be played on Saturday at 2.30pm unless otherwise stated)
ULSTER BANK ALL IRELAND LEAGUE QUALIFYING 'ROUND ROBIN'
Bangor v Enniscorthy
These two sides have already met twice in recent seasons in the All-Ireland Junior Cup, each side recording a win with home advantage. Enniscorthy has never lost to an Ulster side at their Ross Road base, so Bangor’s challenge is to break that pattern and maintain its ‘push’ for the return of AIL rugby to Upritchard Park.
When these two teams met at Ross Road in December Enniscorthy ran our very convincing 23-5 winners in the semi-final of the All-Ireland Junior Cup.
The squad in December is much different to the one which travels this weekend with the panel very much at full strength. There will be nine personnel changes from December, eleven changes in all.
Bangor travels with a 22-man squad which will be finalised after training late in the week. Bangor is well aware Enniscorthy faces three games in eight days after their opening match at Clonmel was postponed, but that won’t affect the focussed approach Jason Morgan has imbued in his history-making outfit.
KUKRI QUALIFYING LEAGUE 1
Omagh v Clogher Valley
These two sides drew 13-13 at the Cran two weeks ago that finished 13-13, a . result which Omagh Head Coach Philip Marshall didn’t want as a win would have given his team an outside chance of finishing in fifth place to qualify for the AIL Junior Cup next season. McCrea Cup holders Cooke currently occupy sixth place, three points ahead of Omagh.
Clogher coaches Glen Kyle and Davy Black have selection headaches this Saturday with several of the 1st XV players on social duties which have taken priority. Injuries have plagued the squad in recent weeks and several new faces have made their first appearances. There will be the opportunity for several more players to experience Qualifying League rugby this weekend as the coaches continue the development of the First XV squad for next season. Clogher Valley suffered a heavy 38-7 defeat at Portadown last weekend, so the coaching team will be aim to end the season with a good performance against familiar ‘derby’ opposition.
KUKRI QUALIFYING LEAGUE 2
Lisburn v Academy
The Blaris side has used home advantage to record home wins over Ballymoney by 44-0, and Donaghadee by 36-0, to move out of the bottom two places.
Academy will be difficult opponents as they target a fifth-place finish above Larne, with two games remaining. They lost 22 -14 at Enniskillen last Saturday and will want to halt its three-match losing run.
Lisburn 1st XV Manager Michael Knowles is hoping his players can maintain their form of recent weeks as, mathematically, Donaghadee can still overhaul his side. He is pleased the team is scoring tries and is even more pleased the team has kept two clean sheets in succession. Saturday will be another cup final at Blaris for the club and its players who cannot dwell on recent indifferent performances.
Few changes are expected from last weekend’s line-up, and though centre David Gilkinson is unavailable winger Ross Reaney, who scored three tries against Ballymoney, is expected to return to the squad.
When these two sides meet in the corresponding fixture in November at Roughfort Academy won 22-7.
Grosvenor v Donaghadee
In the first of its three remaining league fixtures to be played at its new home at Gibson Park Grosvenor defeated Ballymoney 22-13 and will be hope to follow that performance up with wins, over the next eight days, over Donaghadee and Randalstown to secure its place in Qualifying Two next season.
Opponents Donaghadee has lost its last five league games and will find it difficult to pick up points in the three remaining games: away at Grosvenor, Randalstown and Academy.
For ‘Dee Head coach John West it has been an uphill battle for the players in recent weeks, and he’s acutely aware that with three games to play the team can avoid finishing in that dreaded ninth place.
Selection has become more difficult with his small playing squad so he was disappointed to see newly-recruited Connor McKee, from Bangor Grammar, pick up a serious injury last week at Lisburn which will rule him out for the rest of the season. The experienced Gareth Gordon returns this week, though the coach will wait until late in the week to finalise his 17 players for the weekend.
When these two sides met at Donaldson Park in October Donaghadee won narrowly by 19-17 winners.
Randalstown v Enniskillen
With so much at stake for Enniskillen this is a ‘must win’ game if it is to achieve its ambition of finishing second and making the play-off against Ards. With the Qualifying Two fixture programme to be completed by Saturday of next week Randalstown must play three matches in eight days: Enniskillen, followed by Donaghadee next Wednesday night, and a trip to Gibson Park to play Grosvenor. No easy games with so much to play for in each of these matches.
Randalstown Head Coach Gary Longwell and his assistant Alistair Strange are hoping for a strong finish to the season in preparation for 2016/17, as there is a real belief at Nelisbrook Park that the playing squad is now strong enough to mount a real challenge for promotion to Qualifying One next year. Enniskillen is in a great run of form so it will be a great test for a young and developing side.
Enniskillen is facing four games in eleven days - and possibly five in 15 days if they make the play-off against Ards. Bangor was placed in the same situation recently, and made light of playing six games in just over a fortnight, and that confirms that success comes at the expected price, teams having to play in a highly competitive and congested fixture programme.
Enniskillen Head Coach Norman Richmond is aware of the task his players face at Randalstown, and during his tenure he has yet to secure that elusive first away win against this opposition. Aware Randalstown would relish the ‘scalp’ of ‘Skins’ in its pursuit of a third-place finish in Richmond is expecting another difficult and physical game after the match with Coleraine at Mullaghmeen on Tuesday night.
He awaits news on the availability of a couple of players to see if he can travel at full-strength but will not finalise his travelling squad until later in the week. Former Portora Royal scrum-half Ben Parkinson continues to partner Adam Lendrum (pictured) in the absence of Nick Finlay. When these two teams met at Mullaghmeen in November Enniskillen won 18-11.
NOTE: Due to a rugby festival at Randalstown on Saturday this key game has been switched to the playing fields at Antrim Grammar School.
Additional fixtures:
Enniskillen v Carrickfergus, Tuesday, kick-off 8pm
Randalstown v Donaghadee, Wednesday, kick-off 7pm
KUKRI QUALIFYING LEAGUE 3
BHSFP v Limavady
Holywood v Lurgan
Ophir v Civil Service
PSNI v Monaghan
Strabane v Letterkenny
UUC v Newry
PSNI v BHSFP, Wednesday, kick-off 6.45pm
2nd XV LEAGUE
Ballynahinch v Banbridge
Ballynahinch v Malone, Wednesday, kick-off 7.30pm
HALL CUP
Ballyclare v Larne
This is an annual fixture played between these two clubs, Larne being the current holders having won at the Glynn last season.
Usually there are two fixtures, involving the clubs’ First and Second XV sides, with the aggregate score winning. This year only the clubs' 1st XV teams will compete for the Hall Cup as both clubs’ 2nd XVs compete in the same league. No doubt a fixture and local ‘derby’ that will attract a large crowd to the Cloughan this weekend and have a suitably relaxed end-of-season ‘feel’!