KUKRI QUALIFYING LEAGUE ONE
After five rounds, just five points separate the top five teams with the champions Portadown on 18 points, two ahead of Bangor and Clogher Valley, with CIYMS and Ballymoney on 13 points.
This week's fixtures have the teams in the top half playing the sides in the bottom half. Points are vital for the teams pushing for the league title and top four positions. The two North Coast teams Coleraine and UUC occupy the bottom two positions. Three points separate ...
KUKRI QUALIFYING LEAGUE ONE After five rounds, just five points separate the top five teams with the champions Portadown on 18 points, two ahead of Bangor and Clogher Valley, with CIYMS and Ballymoney on 13 points. This week's fixtures have the teams in the top half playing the sides in the bottom half. Points are vital for the teams pushing for the league title and top four positions. The two North Coast teams Coleraine and UUC occupy the bottom two positions. Three points separate Coleraine, Donaghadee, Cooke and Dromore. The students are already eight points behind Coleraine. All games kick off at 2.30pm on Saturday 19th October unless otherwise stated. Bangor v Cooke Bangor have made their intentions known after resting several players for their Millar McCall Wylie Junior Cup fixture against Portadown when they conceded six tries and ended up losing 43-24. The seasiders goal is to win the league and return to playing senior rugby. Key halfbacks Ricky Armstrong and Jason Morgan will return for the visit of Cooke. Cooke secured a morale boosting win over UUC (27-14) at Shaws Bridge to ease their relegation concerns. They recruited twelve players including player coach Colin Atkinson in the off season. Having recorded their second league win, the team will look to push up the table. The Gourley brothers, Alex and Alan, present a challenge for any defence with their attacking flair. The Upritchard Park faithful will want to see nothing less than a convincing win. Clogher Valley v Donaghadee Clogher coaches Glen Kyle and Davy Black will want to see the their team overturn the 38-0 loss to the North Down team last season at Donaldson Park. If the Fivemiletown side can repeat their 11-48 win at UUC last Saturday, they will remain in contention for league honours. With Portadown topping the table, the Cran side cannot afford any further slip ups. Donaghadee have performed well in their last two away games despite losing against Portadown (10-3) and CIYMS (18-12). Their heavy 39-18 defeat at home to a rejuvenated Ballymoney team sent shock waves through the 'Dee supporters. The team responded with a 24-20 win at Banbridge in the Junior Cup. Halfbacks Alastair Lockhart and player coach Paul McKenzie will require a massive effort from their forwards including Chris Good, Tony Brown, Chris Hamilton and David Murray, if they are to take points from this fixture. 'Dee have never won at the Cran. Can they cause upset? Coleraine v CIYMS Despite encouraging performances against both Bangor and Portadown, Coleraine ended up losing both games. They will face another title contender at Sandel Lodge knowing a win is crucial to move them away from the bottom of the league. Their 26-46 win at Instonians last Friday, when they scored seven tries, will have lifted the squad. Coach Richard Beggs praised his back row of Kenny Calladine, Bernard Mullan and captain Stephen Douglas for inspiring their win. CI, with no Millar McCall Wylie Junior Cup commitments, have had two weeks to recover from their hard earned 31-24 win over Clogher Valley. Captain Stuart Ferguson will know a win is vital for his team to keep the pressure on their fellow league contenders. Dromore v Portadown Barban Hill will welcome the current league champions who are building up their challenge for league and cup honours. With the return of Willy Graham to the second row and with their back row of Gary Hall, Diarmuid O'Kane and James Carleton, they have dominated their opposition up front in recent weeks. Dromore, after a promising run, have suffered successive defeats at home to Bangor and away to Ballymoney in the Junior Cup. Coach Richard Hedley will want his Mid Ulster team to push on and put distance between his team and the chasing pack. Portadown to win UUC v Ballymoney The Riverside students have struggled this season with only a MMW Junior Cup win over Ards 2nds to show for their efforts. They narrowly lost the local derby with Coleraine to a last minute try. Ballymoney lost a few players to senior clubs over the summer but they have still managed to string together several impressive results in recent weeks. The Kilraughts team are chasing a top four finish this season and should win on Saturday.
KUKRI QUALIFYING LEAGUE TWO Ballyclare remain out in front of the chasing pack with surprise package Lisburn their nearest challengers. Recently promoted Strabane have struggled in their opening league games and remain bottom of the standings. Enniskillen v Omagh, Fri 18th Oct, 7.30pm This eagerly awaited fixture will attract a large crowd to witness the rivalry between these two clubs under the floodlights at Mullaghmeen. Enniskillen appear to have found their inner belief after a mixed start to their season when they defeated Grosvenor 32-12. Coach Alastair McKee will have been pleased with his team's response to the Ballyclare defeat to see them take all five points against Grosvenor. Omagh Captain Ali Ferguson will want his team to bounce back from their 42-10 Cup defeat at Ballyclare last Saturday. Enniskillen to win. Ballyclare v Grosvenor Coach Bob Young much be delighted with the strong start the men from the Cloughan have made to their season. On present form they are capable of competing with any team in Qualifying One. Captain Robert Boyd leads by example and his sixty metre dash for a try against Omagh was one of the game's highlights. Grosvenor are into the quarter finals of the Junior Cup and were expected to be one of Ballyclare's main challengers. But their heavy defeat at Enniskillen dented their ambitions and Ballyclare should be comfortable winners on Saturday. Carrick v Randalstown Points will be vital to both sides looking to avoid getting caught up in a potential relegation contest. Randalstown's inability to kick their penalties cost them last Saturday at home to Grosvenor in the Cup. A difficult game to call, with Carrick likely to edge it. Limavady v Lisburn The team from Blaris have recovered from an opening day defeat to Ballyclare to sit three points behind the league leaders. Limavady sit in mid table and are always difficult to beat at home, but Lisburn should win. Strabane v Academy Newly promoted Strabane have struggled so far this season with opening league defeats to Lisburn and Limavady. Willy Gibson's charges will do everything in their power to turn their fortunes around at home this weekend. Academy have recovered from poor early form to climb to a mid table position. Omagh had to work hard to beat them in the league two weeks ago. Expect Academy to win away from home.
KUKRI QUALIFYING LEAGUE ONE After five rounds, just five points separate the top five teams with the champions Portadown on 18 points, two ahead of Bangor and Clogher Valley, with CIYMS and Ballymoney on 13 points. This week's fixtures have the teams in the top half playing the sides in the bottom half. Points are vital for the teams pushing for the league title and top four positions. The two North Coast teams Coleraine and UUC occupy the bottom two positions. Three points separate Coleraine, Donaghadee, Cooke and Dromore. The students are already eight points behind Coleraine. All games kick off at 2.30pm on Saturday 19th October unless otherwise stated. Bangor v Cooke Bangor have made their intentions known after resting several players for their Millar McCall Wylie Junior Cup fixture against Portadown when they conceded six tries and ended up losing 43-24. The seasiders goal is to win the league and return to playing senior rugby. Key halfbacks Ricky Armstrong and Jason Morgan will return for the visit of Cooke. Cooke secured a morale boosting win over UUC (27-14) at Shaws Bridge to ease their relegation concerns. They recruited twelve players including player coach Colin Atkinson in the off season. Having recorded their second league win, the team will look to push up the table. The Gourley brothers, Alex and Alan, present a challenge for any defence with their attacking flair. The Upritchard Park faithful will want to see nothing less than a convincing win. Clogher Valley v Donaghadee Clogher coaches Glen Kyle and Davy Black will want to see the their team overturn the 38-0 loss to the North Down team last season at Donaldson Park. If the Fivemiletown side can repeat their 11-48 win at UUC last Saturday, they will remain in contention for league honours. With Portadown topping the table, the Cran side cannot afford any further slip ups. Donaghadee have performed well in their last two away games despite losing against Portadown (10-3) and CIYMS (18-12). Their heavy 39-18 defeat at home to a rejuvenated Ballymoney team sent shock waves through the 'Dee supporters. The team responded with a 24-20 win at Banbridge in the Junior Cup. Halfbacks Alastair Lockhart and player coach Paul McKenzie will require a massive effort from their forwards including Chris Good, Tony Brown, Chris Hamilton and David Murray, if they are to take points from this fixture. 'Dee have never won at the Cran. Can they cause upset? Coleraine v CIYMS Despite encouraging performances against both Bangor and Portadown, Coleraine ended up losing both games. They will face another title contender at Sandel Lodge knowing a win is crucial to move them away from the bottom of the league. Their 26-46 win at Instonians last Friday, when they scored seven tries, will have lifted the squad. Coach Richard Beggs praised his back row of Kenny Calladine, Bernard Mullan and captain Stephen Douglas for inspiring their win. CI, with no Millar McCall Wylie Junior Cup commitments, have had two weeks to recover from their hard earned 31-24 win over Clogher Valley. Captain Stuart Ferguson will know a win is vital for his team to keep the pressure on their fellow league contenders. Dromore v Portadown Barban Hill will welcome the current league champions who are building up their challenge for league and cup honours. With the return of Willy Graham to the second row and with their back row of Gary Hall, Diarmuid O'Kane and James Carleton, they have dominated their opposition up front in recent weeks. Dromore, after a promising run, have suffered successive defeats at home to Bangor and away to Ballymoney in the Junior Cup. Coach Richard Hedley will want his Mid Ulster team to push on and put distance between his team and the chasing pack. Portadown to win UUC v Ballymoney The Riverside students have struggled this season with only a MMW Junior Cup win over Ards 2nds to show for their efforts. They narrowly lost the local derby with Coleraine to a last minute try. Ballymoney lost a few players to senior clubs over the summer but they have still managed to string together several impressive results in recent weeks. The Kilraughts team are chasing a top four finish this season and should win on Saturday.
KUKRI QUALIFYING LEAGUE TWO Ballyclare remain out in front of the chasing pack with surprise package Lisburn their nearest challengers. Recently promoted Strabane have struggled in their opening league games and remain bottom of the standings. Enniskillen v Omagh, Fri 18th Oct, 7.30pm This eagerly awaited fixture will attract a large crowd to witness the rivalry between these two clubs under the floodlights at Mullaghmeen. Enniskillen appear to have found their inner belief after a mixed start to their season when they defeated Grosvenor 32-12. Coach Alastair McKee will have been pleased with his team's response to the Ballyclare defeat to see them take all five points against Grosvenor. Omagh Captain Ali Ferguson will want his team to bounce back from their 42-10 Cup defeat at Ballyclare last Saturday. Enniskillen to win. Ballyclare v Grosvenor Coach Bob Young much be delighted with the strong start the men from the Cloughan have made to their season. On present form they are capable of competing with any team in Qualifying One. Captain Robert Boyd leads by example and his sixty metre dash for a try against Omagh was one of the game's highlights. Grosvenor are into the quarter finals of the Junior Cup and were expected to be one of Ballyclare's main challengers. But their heavy defeat at Enniskillen dented their ambitions and Ballyclare should be comfortable winners on Saturday. Carrick v Randalstown Points will be vital to both sides looking to avoid getting caught up in a potential relegation contest. Randalstown's inability to kick their penalties cost them last Saturday at home to Grosvenor in the Cup. A difficult game to call, with Carrick likely to edge it. Limavady v Lisburn The team from Blaris have recovered from an opening day defeat to Ballyclare to sit three points behind the league leaders. Limavady sit in mid table and are always difficult to beat at home, but Lisburn should win. Strabane v Academy Newly promoted Strabane have struggled so far this season with opening league defeats to Lisburn and Limavady. Willy Gibson's charges will do everything in their power to turn their fortunes around at home this weekend. Academy have recovered from poor early form to climb to a mid table position. Omagh had to work hard to beat them in the league two weeks ago. Expect Academy to win away from home.