KUKRI QUALIFYING LEAGUE 1
BALLYMONEY v BANGOR
Can any of the chasing pack halt the progress of the North Down club? Ballymoney have impressed in recent weeks moving up to fifth place in the league after a slow start. Bangor are managing their players and their commitments to maintain their challenge for the league. The experience of prop Paddy Dornan and number 8 Curtis Stewart has given the Seasiders a platform for their young backline to score tries under the influence of half backs ...
KUKRI QUALIFYING LEAGUE 1 BALLYMONEY v BANGOR Can any of the chasing pack halt the progress of the North Down club? Ballymoney have impressed in recent weeks moving up to fifth place in the league after a slow start. Bangor are managing their players and their commitments to maintain their challenge for the league. The experience of prop Paddy Dornan and number 8 Curtis Stewart has given the Seasiders a platform for their young backline to score tries under the influence of half backs Ricky Armstrong and Jason Morgan. Captain Jamie Clegg wiLL ensure his squad don't slip up in this tricky fixture at Kilraughts Road. Ballymoney want to maintain their challenge for a top four position but they are up against it. CIYMS v DROMORE The Belmont club have league title ambitions and will want to bounce back from their defeat in County Wexford. Coach Graham Cloke and captain Stuart Ferguson know their side can afford no slips up against a team who were unlucky to lose in their last league outing at home to champions Portadown 13-17. The Barban Hill side have the personnel to upset the form book and maintain their push for a top four place. In Ulster Junior lock Gareth Fitzpatrick, they have an inspirational captain who along with their coaches Dewet Bekker and Jeremy Ogle, has the experience to upset the East Belfast side. CIYMS should win with home advantage. CLOGHER VALLEY v COLERAINE The Fivemiletown club are be clear favourites to win this match as they continue to push for honours in the league, Junior Cup and All Ireland Junior Cup. Their large playing squad continues to provide the personnel to win games as demonstrated last Saturday when captain Stephen Baxter was unavailable along with other key players. Such is the strength of the squad coaches Davy Black and Glen Kyle have developed, whatever side they select has that determination to win and grind out results. Coleraine have performed well against Bangor, CIYMS and Portadown in high scoring encounters this season. Coach Richard Beggs will have his side well prepared winger Nigel Hall has shown his try scoring ability against the top sides. DONAGHADEE v UUC Injuries to key players Chris Hamilton, Nigel Barker and Chris Good in their defeat last Saturday will present 'Dee coaches Stuart Hennessey and Paul McKenzie with headaches over team selection for this tricky fixture at home to the North Coast students. In recent seasons this is a fixture the Donaldson Park side have won by narrow margins. The students are improving and appear close to securing their first win. Will it be at the 'Dee this Saturday? Captain David Orr and coaches Nathan Moore and Ryan Milligan will be targeting this game. 'Both sides occupy the bottom two positions in the league. Dee captain Alastair Lockhart will require maximum effort from his team to take all four points. PORTADOWN v COOKE Chambers Park coach Richard Hedley will be delighted with his champions performances that maintains their challenge for honours in the league, Junior Cup and All Ireland Junior Cup. Despite the unavailability of players the side were able to bounce back from a half time deficit to win 17-22 in Connacht. Captain Jonny Holden uses his leadership qualities to drive his side forward to grind out results as demonstrated at Monivea and Dromore. Portadown's formidable forwards continue to dominate opposition packs. Cooke have the players in their backs to stretch the Portadown side but player/coach Colin Atkinson will have to lead from the front for his side to secure any points from this game. Portadown to win.
KUKRI QUALIFYING LEAGUE 2 ENNISKILLEN v RANDALSTOWN The Fermanagh side have struggled in their last two games: suffering defeats to Lisburn (finished with 12 players) and Omagh following an impressive win over Grosvenor. Coach Alasdair McKee and captain Ricky Connor will have to lift their team for this fixture against the County Antrim team who have recorded impressive wins away to Carrickfergus and at home to Limavady. Coach Gary Longwell will have been encouraged by their five tries in the diffiult conditions at Neilsbrook Park. Mullaghameen is never an easy location for visiting teams so 'Skins should edge it with home advantage. LIMAVADY v GROSVENOR The Roesiders have disappointed this season and sit in the bottom three with Grosvenor; just two points separate the two. Early season wins over Omagh and Ballymena 2nds suggested the Belmont side would be considered as serious challengers for promotion, but defeats away to Enniskillen and Carrickfergus have stalled their progress. Conditions may dictate the outcome of this match with Grosvenor coach Peter Lowry hoping to get his team back to winning ways for their Junior Cup trip to Coleraine the following week. Grosvenor to win. STRABANE v BALLYCLARE Omagh struggled to win 3-17 away to the North West side last Saturday, failing to secure the bonus point. Strabane coach Willy Gibson was delighted with his side's performance as they continue to adapt to life in Kukri Qualifying 2. Ballyclare were rather fortuitous to win their game at Academy last Saturday (15-14. Visiting coach Bob Young will have been disappointed with his side who are also preparing for a Junior Cup match with Clogher Valley the following week. The Cloughan men know that the strong Strabane pack can pose problems for their forwards. Captain Robert Boyd will have to ensure they don't slip up in this match. Ballyclare to win with ease.
KUKRI QUALIFYING LEAGUE 3 LETTERKENNY v PSNI The Donegal side have struggled on their travels losing to Larne (99-0) and Holywood (54-0) in the league. Their home form has been impressive as the club look to develop their young squad. This is a must win game for the team in this difficult league. Lurgan secured their first win of the season over PSNI on Saturday at Pollack Park. There has been no consistency with the PSNI team this season who were expected to mount a challenge for promotion. NEWRY v LARNE Telford Park will welcome the East Antrim side for this crucial game. Both sides need a win to push league leaders Holywood and Donegal. Donegal demonstrated that they were unlucky not to take both points in their narrow defeat at Larne last Saturday (20-16). Expect a large crowd at the South Down venue to see the progress the club are making. The results for both clubs last weekend will provide encouragement that they are moving in the right direction. Larne coach Laurence Kelly will have his team well motivated for this tricky encounter which they should win. KUKRI QUALIFYING LEAGUE 4 ARMOY v BHSFP Armoy remain rooted to the bottom of the league with no points after suffering a 22-0 loss to Civil Service last time out. The Limepark club continue to field two teams as they look to develop their club base in North East Antrim. Whilst they are completing the installation of floodlights at their ground, near neighbours Glen Rovers Hurling Club have made their grounds available to the club for training. BHSFP promised much after an encouraging 9-15 league win at Virginia in September and a opening 10-25 win at Armoy in the Gordon West Cup. In their last league outing they suffered a 0-36 home defeat to Civil Service. Can Armoy secure their first win of the season? LONDONDERRY YM v OPHIR The Drumahoe side continue to struggle and face league favourites Ophir who have comfortably won their opening three league games; BHSFP 55-11, Armoy 38-7 and Civil Service 18-0. They remain also undefeated this season in the Gordon West Cup and should continue their league run on Saturday. VIRGINIA v CIVIL SERVICE Virginia have won two from three of their opening league games; 32-21 at home to Cavan and 13-22 away to Londonderry YMCA. Civil Service have won three out of four league games, losing 18-0 at home to league favourites Ophir. This again could be a tricky fixture for coach Roy Lawton and his team. The Stormont boys need to win this game to maintain their title challenge.
KUKRI QUALIFYING LEAGUE 1 BALLYMONEY v BANGOR Can any of the chasing pack halt the progress of the North Down club? Ballymoney have impressed in recent weeks moving up to fifth place in the league after a slow start. Bangor are managing their players and their commitments to maintain their challenge for the league. The experience of prop Paddy Dornan and number 8 Curtis Stewart has given the Seasiders a platform for their young backline to score tries under the influence of half backs Ricky Armstrong and Jason Morgan. Captain Jamie Clegg wiLL ensure his squad don't slip up in this tricky fixture at Kilraughts Road. Ballymoney want to maintain their challenge for a top four position but they are up against it. CIYMS v DROMORE The Belmont club have league title ambitions and will want to bounce back from their defeat in County Wexford. Coach Graham Cloke and captain Stuart Ferguson know their side can afford no slips up against a team who were unlucky to lose in their last league outing at home to champions Portadown 13-17. The Barban Hill side have the personnel to upset the form book and maintain their push for a top four place. In Ulster Junior lock Gareth Fitzpatrick, they have an inspirational captain who along with their coaches Dewet Bekker and Jeremy Ogle, has the experience to upset the East Belfast side. CIYMS should win with home advantage. CLOGHER VALLEY v COLERAINE The Fivemiletown club are be clear favourites to win this match as they continue to push for honours in the league, Junior Cup and All Ireland Junior Cup. Their large playing squad continues to provide the personnel to win games as demonstrated last Saturday when captain Stephen Baxter was unavailable along with other key players. Such is the strength of the squad coaches Davy Black and Glen Kyle have developed, whatever side they select has that determination to win and grind out results. Coleraine have performed well against Bangor, CIYMS and Portadown in high scoring encounters this season. Coach Richard Beggs will have his side well prepared winger Nigel Hall has shown his try scoring ability against the top sides. DONAGHADEE v UUC Injuries to key players Chris Hamilton, Nigel Barker and Chris Good in their defeat last Saturday will present 'Dee coaches Stuart Hennessey and Paul McKenzie with headaches over team selection for this tricky fixture at home to the North Coast students. In recent seasons this is a fixture the Donaldson Park side have won by narrow margins. The students are improving and appear close to securing their first win. Will it be at the 'Dee this Saturday? Captain David Orr and coaches Nathan Moore and Ryan Milligan will be targeting this game. 'Both sides occupy the bottom two positions in the league. Dee captain Alastair Lockhart will require maximum effort from his team to take all four points. PORTADOWN v COOKE Chambers Park coach Richard Hedley will be delighted with his champions performances that maintains their challenge for honours in the league, Junior Cup and All Ireland Junior Cup. Despite the unavailability of players the side were able to bounce back from a half time deficit to win 17-22 in Connacht. Captain Jonny Holden uses his leadership qualities to drive his side forward to grind out results as demonstrated at Monivea and Dromore. Portadown's formidable forwards continue to dominate opposition packs. Cooke have the players in their backs to stretch the Portadown side but player/coach Colin Atkinson will have to lead from the front for his side to secure any points from this game. Portadown to win.
KUKRI QUALIFYING LEAGUE 2 ENNISKILLEN v RANDALSTOWN The Fermanagh side have struggled in their last two games: suffering defeats to Lisburn (finished with 12 players) and Omagh following an impressive win over Grosvenor. Coach Alasdair McKee and captain Ricky Connor will have to lift their team for this fixture against the County Antrim team who have recorded impressive wins away to Carrickfergus and at home to Limavady. Coach Gary Longwell will have been encouraged by their five tries in the diffiult conditions at Neilsbrook Park. Mullaghameen is never an easy location for visiting teams so 'Skins should edge it with home advantage. LIMAVADY v GROSVENOR The Roesiders have disappointed this season and sit in the bottom three with Grosvenor; just two points separate the two. Early season wins over Omagh and Ballymena 2nds suggested the Belmont side would be considered as serious challengers for promotion, but defeats away to Enniskillen and Carrickfergus have stalled their progress. Conditions may dictate the outcome of this match with Grosvenor coach Peter Lowry hoping to get his team back to winning ways for their Junior Cup trip to Coleraine the following week. Grosvenor to win. STRABANE v BALLYCLARE Omagh struggled to win 3-17 away to the North West side last Saturday, failing to secure the bonus point. Strabane coach Willy Gibson was delighted with his side's performance as they continue to adapt to life in Kukri Qualifying 2. Ballyclare were rather fortuitous to win their game at Academy last Saturday (15-14. Visiting coach Bob Young will have been disappointed with his side who are also preparing for a Junior Cup match with Clogher Valley the following week. The Cloughan men know that the strong Strabane pack can pose problems for their forwards. Captain Robert Boyd will have to ensure they don't slip up in this match. Ballyclare to win with ease.
KUKRI QUALIFYING LEAGUE 3 LETTERKENNY v PSNI The Donegal side have struggled on their travels losing to Larne (99-0) and Holywood (54-0) in the league. Their home form has been impressive as the club look to develop their young squad. This is a must win game for the team in this difficult league. Lurgan secured their first win of the season over PSNI on Saturday at Pollack Park. There has been no consistency with the PSNI team this season who were expected to mount a challenge for promotion. NEWRY v LARNE Telford Park will welcome the East Antrim side for this crucial game. Both sides need a win to push league leaders Holywood and Donegal. Donegal demonstrated that they were unlucky not to take both points in their narrow defeat at Larne last Saturday (20-16). Expect a large crowd at the South Down venue to see the progress the club are making. The results for both clubs last weekend will provide encouragement that they are moving in the right direction. Larne coach Laurence Kelly will have his team well motivated for this tricky encounter which they should win. KUKRI QUALIFYING LEAGUE 4 ARMOY v BHSFP Armoy remain rooted to the bottom of the league with no points after suffering a 22-0 loss to Civil Service last time out. The Limepark club continue to field two teams as they look to develop their club base in North East Antrim. Whilst they are completing the installation of floodlights at their ground, near neighbours Glen Rovers Hurling Club have made their grounds available to the club for training. BHSFP promised much after an encouraging 9-15 league win at Virginia in September and a opening 10-25 win at Armoy in the Gordon West Cup. In their last league outing they suffered a 0-36 home defeat to Civil Service. Can Armoy secure their first win of the season? LONDONDERRY YM v OPHIR The Drumahoe side continue to struggle and face league favourites Ophir who have comfortably won their opening three league games; BHSFP 55-11, Armoy 38-7 and Civil Service 18-0. They remain also undefeated this season in the Gordon West Cup and should continue their league run on Saturday. VIRGINIA v CIVIL SERVICE Virginia have won two from three of their opening league games; 32-21 at home to Cavan and 13-22 away to Londonderry YMCA. Civil Service have won three out of four league games, losing 18-0 at home to league favourites Ophir. This again could be a tricky fixture for coach Roy Lawton and his team. The Stormont boys need to win this game to maintain their title challenge.