KUKRI QUALIFYING LEAGUE ONE: MATCH PREVIEWS
BANGOR v CIYMS
Expect a large Christmas crowd for this all important league game at the seaside venue. Two sides who were the dominant forces in Ulster Senior rugby in the 1970s and 1980s have the opportunity to renew old rivalries and lay claims to reestablish themselves in the upper echelons of the local game. Bangor showed improvement in their narrow defeat away to league champions Portadown (10-3) last Saturday at Chambers Park. Three ...
KUKRI QUALIFYING LEAGUE ONE: MATCH PREVIEWS BANGOR v CIYMS Expect a large Christmas crowd for this all important league game at the seaside venue. Two sides who were the dominant forces in Ulster Senior rugby in the 1970s and 1980s have the opportunity to renew old rivalries and lay claims to reestablish themselves in the upper echelons of the local game. Bangor showed improvement in their narrow defeat away to league champions Portadown (10-3) last Saturday at Chambers Park. Three defeats to Portadown, Donaghadee and Ballymoney have seriously dented their promotion ambitions. Their goal now has to be to finish in the top four. CIYMS, with their strong forwards, have struggled to impose themselves on opposition sides. Expect a ferocious contest between the two forward packs. Both sides have talented backlines to make this a high scoring contest. CIYMS could nick an away win. COLERAINE v BALLYMONEY A local derby that is sure to set up another nail biting match. In the first meeting between the two sides Coleraine recorded a narrow 21-22 win at Kilraughts Road in September. How the fortunes of both sides have changed since this meeting. Ballymoney have went on to mount a serious challenge for a top four placing in the league, with Coleraine sitting second from bottom. Both sides contested the semi finals of the Millar McCall Wylie Junior Cup, with Ballymoney losing narrowly to eventual winners Ballynahinch 2nds. Coleraine were well beaten by runners up Ballyclare. Coleraine suffered a heavy 42-12 defeat at Cooke last Saturday despite leading 10-12 at half time. The loss of their South African Bokkie Carstens to injury turned the game with Cooke scoring six tries. Injuries have plagued the North Coast side this season and coach Richard Beggs will be hoping that some of his key players will be available this weekend. For Ballymoney, their opening two league defeats and that narrow cup defeat to Ballynahinch 2nds has denied the County Antrim side the chance to bring silverware to Kilraughts Road. They pushed league leaders Clogher Valley all the way last Saturday before losing 10-9. Once again, openside forward Garvin Bellingham was the stand out player for the Ballymoney side. Ballymoney to win. DONAGHADEE v PORTADOWN What a tasty Christmas Fayre the supporters can expect at Donaldson Park. Last season the temperature was high in this feisty and full on encounter with Portadown running out winners in a high scoring game. Portadown had to work hard in the early season meeting between the two sides to win 10-3 at Chambers Park. The County Armagh side will want to complete the double over their North Down opposition. Donaghadee will need another performance similar to their win over Bangor (23-19) if they want to take any points from this game. Back row forward Chris Hamilton is the inspirational figure in the forwards and his loss to injury in their 14-10 defeat at Dromore last Saturday was crucial. Portadown will need maximum points to keep up the pressure on Clogher Valley but they should at least get four. DROMORE V COOKE The County Down side will welcome an in-form Cooke XV who have recorded two impressive wins over Coleraine and Ballymena 2nds in recent weeks. Dromore once again have shown their fighting qualities to have an outside chance of pushing for a top four place after defeating Donaghadee 14-10 at home last Saturday. Coaches Dewet Bekker and Jeremy Ogle will want another win before they travel to face an inform Carrickfergus in the Towns Cup the following Saturday. Cooke will look to maintain their winning sequence before they travel to play Academy away in a tricky McCrea Cup match. A lot at stake for both sides in this game. Cooke were strengthened by the return of the talented Philip Cartmill last Saturday, while ex-Sullivan scrumhalf Charlie Burrows was the stand out player for the Shaw's Bridge outfit, contributing 17 points including a try. This match has the potential to be a high scoring game, with Cooke likely to grab an away win. UUC v CLOGHER VALLEY Once again the students have demonstrated that they will be a difficult side to beat in the second half of the season despite being 15 points behind second from bottom place Coleraine. They pushed CIYMS all the way at Belmont last Saturday before losing 17-10. Both Clogher Valley and Portadown have shown they have that ability to grind out wins and the Fivemiletown side will show respect for the students when they travel to the North Coast on Saturday. The County Tyrone side have already recorded a 46-0 win over the students in the league and a 11-48 win in the Millar McCall Wylie Junior Cup at the Riverside venue. With a squad of nearly 40 players available to coaches Glen Kyle and Davy Black, the management of their playing resources will be crucial in the coming weeks if they are to bring further silverware to the Cran. In the absence of scrumhalf James Bates who moved to Dungannon, halfbacks Aaron Best and Philip Holme have become influential players in the side. Clogher Valley to win.
KUKRI QUALIFYING LEAGUE ONE: MATCH PREVIEWS BANGOR v CIYMS Expect a large Christmas crowd for this all important league game at the seaside venue. Two sides who were the dominant forces in Ulster Senior rugby in the 1970s and 1980s have the opportunity to renew old rivalries and lay claims to reestablish themselves in the upper echelons of the local game. Bangor showed improvement in their narrow defeat away to league champions Portadown (10-3) last Saturday at Chambers Park. Three defeats to Portadown, Donaghadee and Ballymoney have seriously dented their promotion ambitions. Their goal now has to be to finish in the top four. CIYMS, with their strong forwards, have struggled to impose themselves on opposition sides. Expect a ferocious contest between the two forward packs. Both sides have talented backlines to make this a high scoring contest. CIYMS could nick an away win. COLERAINE v BALLYMONEY A local derby that is sure to set up another nail biting match. In the first meeting between the two sides Coleraine recorded a narrow 21-22 win at Kilraughts Road in September. How the fortunes of both sides have changed since this meeting. Ballymoney have went on to mount a serious challenge for a top four placing in the league, with Coleraine sitting second from bottom. Both sides contested the semi finals of the Millar McCall Wylie Junior Cup, with Ballymoney losing narrowly to eventual winners Ballynahinch 2nds. Coleraine were well beaten by runners up Ballyclare. Coleraine suffered a heavy 42-12 defeat at Cooke last Saturday despite leading 10-12 at half time. The loss of their South African Bokkie Carstens to injury turned the game with Cooke scoring six tries. Injuries have plagued the North Coast side this season and coach Richard Beggs will be hoping that some of his key players will be available this weekend. For Ballymoney, their opening two league defeats and that narrow cup defeat to Ballynahinch 2nds has denied the County Antrim side the chance to bring silverware to Kilraughts Road. They pushed league leaders Clogher Valley all the way last Saturday before losing 10-9. Once again, openside forward Garvin Bellingham was the stand out player for the Ballymoney side. Ballymoney to win. DONAGHADEE v PORTADOWN What a tasty Christmas Fayre the supporters can expect at Donaldson Park. Last season the temperature was high in this feisty and full on encounter with Portadown running out winners in a high scoring game. Portadown had to work hard in the early season meeting between the two sides to win 10-3 at Chambers Park. The County Armagh side will want to complete the double over their North Down opposition. Donaghadee will need another performance similar to their win over Bangor (23-19) if they want to take any points from this game. Back row forward Chris Hamilton is the inspirational figure in the forwards and his loss to injury in their 14-10 defeat at Dromore last Saturday was crucial. Portadown will need maximum points to keep up the pressure on Clogher Valley but they should at least get four. DROMORE V COOKE The County Down side will welcome an in-form Cooke XV who have recorded two impressive wins over Coleraine and Ballymena 2nds in recent weeks. Dromore once again have shown their fighting qualities to have an outside chance of pushing for a top four place after defeating Donaghadee 14-10 at home last Saturday. Coaches Dewet Bekker and Jeremy Ogle will want another win before they travel to face an inform Carrickfergus in the Towns Cup the following Saturday. Cooke will look to maintain their winning sequence before they travel to play Academy away in a tricky McCrea Cup match. A lot at stake for both sides in this game. Cooke were strengthened by the return of the talented Philip Cartmill last Saturday, while ex-Sullivan scrumhalf Charlie Burrows was the stand out player for the Shaw's Bridge outfit, contributing 17 points including a try. This match has the potential to be a high scoring game, with Cooke likely to grab an away win. UUC v CLOGHER VALLEY Once again the students have demonstrated that they will be a difficult side to beat in the second half of the season despite being 15 points behind second from bottom place Coleraine. They pushed CIYMS all the way at Belmont last Saturday before losing 17-10. Both Clogher Valley and Portadown have shown they have that ability to grind out wins and the Fivemiletown side will show respect for the students when they travel to the North Coast on Saturday. The County Tyrone side have already recorded a 46-0 win over the students in the league and a 11-48 win in the Millar McCall Wylie Junior Cup at the Riverside venue. With a squad of nearly 40 players available to coaches Glen Kyle and Davy Black, the management of their playing resources will be crucial in the coming weeks if they are to bring further silverware to the Cran. In the absence of scrumhalf James Bates who moved to Dungannon, halfbacks Aaron Best and Philip Holme have become influential players in the side. Clogher Valley to win.