KUKRI QUALIFYING LEAGUE 1
BALLYMONEY v DROMORE
A fascinating fixture in store at Kilraughts Road as the in-form Dromore, on the back of four league and Cup wins, look to secure a top four place in the league. Ballymoney are experiencing a run of only one win from their last five games with their coaches Neil Beddow and Jason Taggart looking to turn around the team's performances. Both teams met at Barban Hill in September in the league when they battled out a 15-15 draw. When they met in ...
KUKRI QUALIFYING LEAGUE 1 BALLYMONEY v DROMORE A fascinating fixture in store at Kilraughts Road as the in-form Dromore, on the back of four league and Cup wins, look to secure a top four place in the league. Ballymoney are experiencing a run of only one win from their last five games with their coaches Neil Beddow and Jason Taggart looking to turn around the team's performances. Both teams met at Barban Hill in September in the league when they battled out a 15-15 draw. When they met in the Millar McCall Wylie Junior Cup at Kilraughts Road, Ballymoney ran out 22-12 winners. Dromore coaches Dewet Bekker and Jeremy Ogle have turned round the fortunes of the County Down side after they lost four league games in a row to the top four sides. CIYMS v PORTADOWN The Belmont side has slipped down to fourth place with both Ballymoney and Dromore closing in on them. If results go against them this weekend they could be displaced from the top four. For a club who had ambitions of winning the league, failure to qualify for the All Ireland Junior Cup cannot be contemplated by their faithful supporters. For CI captain Stuart Ferguson and coach Graham Cloke, this is a must win game. There is much to play for this weekend. Portadown will be hurting from their disappointing Towns Cup defeat at home to Ballymena 2nds last weekend. The only piece of silverware they can pursue is to retain the Qualifying League title, although Clogher Valley remain in pole position. The meeting of these two sides at Chambers Park on 18th January will surely determine the race for this year's title. CI and Portadown met at Chambers Park in September when Portadown won 17-6. Discipline will be crucial in this keenly contested game. CLOGHER VALLEY v BANGOR The memory of that 14-12 defeat to the seasiders in September will be one that the County Tyrone side will want to reverse. Coaches Glen Kyle and Davy Black will know that several of their players will be playing their 20th game of the season this weekend, with crucial games coming up in the next three weeks against Portadown, Ballyclare in the Towns Cup and Enniscorthy in the All Ireland Junior Cup final. Bangor will represent a serious challenge this weekend with Coach Rupert Preston giving several of his younger squad members the opportunity to stake a claim for a 1st XV place after their league defeat at Donaghadee. The youngsters in forwards, Adam Rushe and Darren Kelly have grabbed the opportunity in their wins over CIYMS and City of Derry 2nds. Bangor have a talented backline, well marshalled by the experienced Jason Morgan, that will test the Clogher defence. The home side should win but they will be hard pushed by the North Down side who still have league ambitions. COOKE v DONAGHADEE A crucial match for two sides who sit in the bottom three with UUC. Both sides would have had ambitions to finish in the top four this season but such is the strength of the teams in this league they have been unable to mount a challenge. Having played 11 games, 'Dee have won four, all at home. They have lost all their five away league matches. Much work will have to be done by player coaches Stuart Hennessey and Paul McKenzie, along with captain Alastair Lockhart, if they are to win this game. Cooke have impressed in recent weeks and will look to use that 34-21 McCrea Cup win at Academy last Saturday to improve their league form as they build for a push to take back the McCrea Cup this season. Cooke have only won three league games from 11, including a league double over Coleraine. Cooke to win with home advantage. UUC v COLERAINE Coleraine recorded a narrow 20-18 win over the students in September when the two sides met. Unfortunately the students remain rooted to the bottom of the table with no wins from 11 games. Despite a stop-start season, Coleraine have bounced back from their Millar McCall Wylie Junior Cup semi final defeat to record wins over neighbours Ballymoney (24-10) in the league and Randalstown (14-12) in the Towns Cup last Saturday. Coach Richard Beggs is looking for consistency from his side as they look for a good run in the Towns Cup. Local derbies are always tight with the bragging rights at stake. Can the students secure that all important first league win?
KUKRI QUALIFYING LEAGUE 2 ACADEMY v ENNISKILLEN The North Belfast side will be confident of taking the points after their 11-0 win in Fermanagh before Christmas. Skins coach Alastair McKee will be revisiting his old team and would love to take the scalp of Academy. He will look to see his team bounce back from their derby defeat to Omagh as they prepare for a Towns Cup clash at Donaghadee in two weeks. Two defeats to Ballyclare and Cooke could spur the Academy to win this fixture. CARRICKFERGUS v BALLYCLARE Expect another fiesty encounter between these two County Antrim sides. The 'Clare side required a late surge to claim the points when they met in November, securing a hard earned 29-15 win that flattered the hosts. Carrick were involved in a niggly contest during their defeat to Dromore last Saturday when the referee issued several yellow cards as well as a red. The home side will know that discipline will be crucial if they want to cause an upset. Ballyclare to win. LIMAVADY v RANDALSTOWN Two sides that have experienced contrasting fortunes this season. Limavady are in 9th place with Randalstown in 4th place with two games in hand - they could yet mount a late push for the league. Both sides were knocked out of the Towns Cup at the weekend with Limavady suffering a heavy defeat to Clogher Valley and Randalstown narrowly losing at Coleraine. Gary Longwell has worked his magic at Neilsbrook this season and despite a four week rest, the Antrim side showed no rustiness in their game at Coleraine. Expect a Randalstown win. OMAGH v GROSVENOR The County Tyrone side will need no motivation for this game as Phil Marshall's side suffered a surprise 25-22 defeat at the Belmont venue in September. Despite the loss of their influential captain, Andrew Ferguson, to a serious leg injury against Enniskillen, expect the ever reliable Mervyn Edgar to slip comfortably into his old No 8 position. Omagh, despite several late changes, overwhelmed Dungannon 2nds 48-3 in the Towns Cup at home last Saturday, scoring seven tries in the process. Fullback David Ward accumulated 18 points for his side. Grosvenor come into this game on the back of three league wins after a run of four straight defeats. Omagh cannot afford to be complacent against a dangerous side who like to throw the ball about. Omagh to win. STRABANE v LISBURN Much fanfare welcomed newly promoted Strabane when they visited Blaris for their opening league game in Qualifying 2 back in September, only to suffer a 39-11 defeat to the hosts. Unfortunately after nine league games the County Tyrone side is still looking for their first league win. Lisburn put up a spirited defeat in their loss to Ballynahinch 2nds in the Towns Cup last Saturday. Strabane will be looking to build some momentum before they visit Ballymoney in the Towns Cup in two weeks time. Lisburn, after a bright start to the league, have slipped down the table to 7th place. Coach David Smyth will be looking a win and his charges should deliver.
KUKRI QUALIFYING LEAGUE 1 BALLYMONEY v DROMORE A fascinating fixture in store at Kilraughts Road as the in-form Dromore, on the back of four league and Cup wins, look to secure a top four place in the league. Ballymoney are experiencing a run of only one win from their last five games with their coaches Neil Beddow and Jason Taggart looking to turn around the team's performances. Both teams met at Barban Hill in September in the league when they battled out a 15-15 draw. When they met in the Millar McCall Wylie Junior Cup at Kilraughts Road, Ballymoney ran out 22-12 winners. Dromore coaches Dewet Bekker and Jeremy Ogle have turned round the fortunes of the County Down side after they lost four league games in a row to the top four sides. CIYMS v PORTADOWN The Belmont side has slipped down to fourth place with both Ballymoney and Dromore closing in on them. If results go against them this weekend they could be displaced from the top four. For a club who had ambitions of winning the league, failure to qualify for the All Ireland Junior Cup cannot be contemplated by their faithful supporters. For CI captain Stuart Ferguson and coach Graham Cloke, this is a must win game. There is much to play for this weekend. Portadown will be hurting from their disappointing Towns Cup defeat at home to Ballymena 2nds last weekend. The only piece of silverware they can pursue is to retain the Qualifying League title, although Clogher Valley remain in pole position. The meeting of these two sides at Chambers Park on 18th January will surely determine the race for this year's title. CI and Portadown met at Chambers Park in September when Portadown won 17-6. Discipline will be crucial in this keenly contested game. CLOGHER VALLEY v BANGOR The memory of that 14-12 defeat to the seasiders in September will be one that the County Tyrone side will want to reverse. Coaches Glen Kyle and Davy Black will know that several of their players will be playing their 20th game of the season this weekend, with crucial games coming up in the next three weeks against Portadown, Ballyclare in the Towns Cup and Enniscorthy in the All Ireland Junior Cup final. Bangor will represent a serious challenge this weekend with Coach Rupert Preston giving several of his younger squad members the opportunity to stake a claim for a 1st XV place after their league defeat at Donaghadee. The youngsters in forwards, Adam Rushe and Darren Kelly have grabbed the opportunity in their wins over CIYMS and City of Derry 2nds. Bangor have a talented backline, well marshalled by the experienced Jason Morgan, that will test the Clogher defence. The home side should win but they will be hard pushed by the North Down side who still have league ambitions. COOKE v DONAGHADEE A crucial match for two sides who sit in the bottom three with UUC. Both sides would have had ambitions to finish in the top four this season but such is the strength of the teams in this league they have been unable to mount a challenge. Having played 11 games, 'Dee have won four, all at home. They have lost all their five away league matches. Much work will have to be done by player coaches Stuart Hennessey and Paul McKenzie, along with captain Alastair Lockhart, if they are to win this game. Cooke have impressed in recent weeks and will look to use that 34-21 McCrea Cup win at Academy last Saturday to improve their league form as they build for a push to take back the McCrea Cup this season. Cooke have only won three league games from 11, including a league double over Coleraine. Cooke to win with home advantage. UUC v COLERAINE Coleraine recorded a narrow 20-18 win over the students in September when the two sides met. Unfortunately the students remain rooted to the bottom of the table with no wins from 11 games. Despite a stop-start season, Coleraine have bounced back from their Millar McCall Wylie Junior Cup semi final defeat to record wins over neighbours Ballymoney (24-10) in the league and Randalstown (14-12) in the Towns Cup last Saturday. Coach Richard Beggs is looking for consistency from his side as they look for a good run in the Towns Cup. Local derbies are always tight with the bragging rights at stake. Can the students secure that all important first league win?
KUKRI QUALIFYING LEAGUE 2 ACADEMY v ENNISKILLEN The North Belfast side will be confident of taking the points after their 11-0 win in Fermanagh before Christmas. Skins coach Alastair McKee will be revisiting his old team and would love to take the scalp of Academy. He will look to see his team bounce back from their derby defeat to Omagh as they prepare for a Towns Cup clash at Donaghadee in two weeks. Two defeats to Ballyclare and Cooke could spur the Academy to win this fixture. CARRICKFERGUS v BALLYCLARE Expect another fiesty encounter between these two County Antrim sides. The 'Clare side required a late surge to claim the points when they met in November, securing a hard earned 29-15 win that flattered the hosts. Carrick were involved in a niggly contest during their defeat to Dromore last Saturday when the referee issued several yellow cards as well as a red. The home side will know that discipline will be crucial if they want to cause an upset. Ballyclare to win. LIMAVADY v RANDALSTOWN Two sides that have experienced contrasting fortunes this season. Limavady are in 9th place with Randalstown in 4th place with two games in hand - they could yet mount a late push for the league. Both sides were knocked out of the Towns Cup at the weekend with Limavady suffering a heavy defeat to Clogher Valley and Randalstown narrowly losing at Coleraine. Gary Longwell has worked his magic at Neilsbrook this season and despite a four week rest, the Antrim side showed no rustiness in their game at Coleraine. Expect a Randalstown win. OMAGH v GROSVENOR The County Tyrone side will need no motivation for this game as Phil Marshall's side suffered a surprise 25-22 defeat at the Belmont venue in September. Despite the loss of their influential captain, Andrew Ferguson, to a serious leg injury against Enniskillen, expect the ever reliable Mervyn Edgar to slip comfortably into his old No 8 position. Omagh, despite several late changes, overwhelmed Dungannon 2nds 48-3 in the Towns Cup at home last Saturday, scoring seven tries in the process. Fullback David Ward accumulated 18 points for his side. Grosvenor come into this game on the back of three league wins after a run of four straight defeats. Omagh cannot afford to be complacent against a dangerous side who like to throw the ball about. Omagh to win. STRABANE v LISBURN Much fanfare welcomed newly promoted Strabane when they visited Blaris for their opening league game in Qualifying 2 back in September, only to suffer a 39-11 defeat to the hosts. Unfortunately after nine league games the County Tyrone side is still looking for their first league win. Lisburn put up a spirited defeat in their loss to Ballynahinch 2nds in the Towns Cup last Saturday. Strabane will be looking to build some momentum before they visit Ballymoney in the Towns Cup in two weeks time. Lisburn, after a bright start to the league, have slipped down the table to 7th place. Coach David Smyth will be looking a win and his charges should deliver.