Cooke RFC and Malone RFC will hope to put on an exciting fixture at Kingspan Stadium on Tuesday evening when they contest the McCrea Cup Final, kick off 7pm.
They will hope to follow in the footsteps of Bangor, who defeating Enniskillen 31-25 in the Towns Cup Final and Ballynahinch 3rd XV who defeated Banbridge 3rd XV 51-0 in the Crawford Cup Final just last week. Cooke were finalists last season losing out to Queen's University 2nd XV 26-24 in a dramatic and highly entertaining final. Star performer on the night was Cooke winger Andrew Pollock who scored four tries.
Malone have not graced a final since they overcome Queen's 2nd XV 20-15 after extra time to win the 2011/12 final. For the Gibson Park club, this is the first of three cup finals involving their teams this season - the 4th XV play Enniskillen 2nd XV on Saturday 16th April and the 5th XV play Ballymoney 4th XV in the McCambley Cup Final on Saturday 23rd April.
Cooke under Head Coach Colin Atkinson, will be quietly confident that the team can go one step further this season and return the McCrea Cup to Shaw's Bridge. They will look to emulate a four year grip the club had on this cup between 2006/7 and 2009/10. There was disappointment for Cooke when they narrowly missed out on finishing in the top four of Q1 this season to qualify for the AIL Junior Cup next season.
Malone 2nd XV, under the guidance of Malone stalwart Davy Heron have turned around a difficult first half to the season to make the McCrea Cup Final. 'Big Davy' as he is known to the faithful at Gibson Park was part of the Malone team that last won the trophy in 2011/12.
Malone 2nd XV route to the final
Quarter Final: Won 26-9 away to CIYMS
Semi Final: Won 24-17 away to Academy after turning around a 17-7 deficit
Cooke 1st XV route to the final
Quarter Final: Won 24-21 at home to Grosvenor
Semi Final: Defeated holders Queen's 2nd XV at home 25-8
Malone second row Matthew Doak was a winner last season with Queen's 2nd XV and will hope to see his Malone team lift the trophy again on Tuesday night (Kingspan Stadium, kick of 19.00) Tickets for this game can be purchased here. All support welcome!
Malone 2nd XV team and replacements to face Cooke, McCrea Cup Final:
15. Gareth Millar
14. Jonny Gregg
13. Nathan Brown
12. Ricky McCullagh
11. Phil Martin
10. Bruce Duff
9. Conor Henry
8. Ben McDonnell
7. Josh Ferguson
6. Max Porter
5. Chris Davis
4. Matthew Doak
3. Richard Bartley
2. Dave Cave
1. Lee Barlow (Captain)
Replacements
16. Connor Kelly
17. Kenny Calladine
18. Peter Ireland
19. Brendan Kearney
20. Finn Stoneman
Cooke Head Coach Colin Atkinson and his players are looking forward to finishing their season with a McCrea Cup Final at Kingspan Stadium. His players are well rested after completing their league campaign two weeks ago with a 20-18 win at Dromore. Atkinson has been pleased with the progress his young side has made this season and how their commitment and hard work has gelled them together as a tight unit. He is fully aware his team will require a top performance to get over the line and win the McCrea Cup. Four former Wellington College players including Sam Bridge, Brian Mannus, Andrew Hanna and Matthew Elliott will be included in the squad for Tuesday night's Final.
Hooker Niall Brown will miss the final due to suspension and the opportunity to play against his brother Nathan who will be starting on the Malone team. Cooke players Jonathan McClune, Liam Bennett, Russell Hunter, Brian Mannus, Matthew Elliott, Andrew Hanna, Andrew Pollock, Ian Anderson, Philip Cartmill, Andrew Nelson and Alex Gourley will bring experience to the team as they were also included in last year's final squad.
Cooke 1st XV team and replacements to face Malone, McCrea Cup Final:
15. Alex Gouley
14. Alan Gouley
13. Philip Cartmill (Captain)
12. Kyle Mitchell
11. Andrew Pollock
10. Andrew Hanna
9. Ryan Flavelle
8. Brian Mannus
7. Adrian Dodd
6. Sam Bridge
5. Scott McClelland
4. Andrew Quigley
3. William Dodd
2. Liam Bennett
1. Jonathan McClure
Replacements
16. Russell Hunter
17. Callum Robinson
18. Ian Anderson
19. Matthew Elliott
20. Andrew Nelson
They will hope to follow in the footsteps of Bangor, who defeating Enniskillen 31-25 in the Towns Cup Final and Ballynahinch 3rd XV who defeated Banbridge 3rd XV 51-0 in the Crawford Cup Final just last week. Cooke were finalists last season losing out to Queen's University 2nd XV 26-24 in a dramatic and highly entertaining final. Star performer on the night was Cooke winger Andrew Pollock who scored four tries.
Malone have not graced a final since they overcome Queen's 2nd XV 20-15 after extra time to win the 2011/12 final. For the Gibson Park club, this is the first of three cup finals involving their teams this season - the 4th XV play Enniskillen 2nd XV on Saturday 16th April and the 5th XV play Ballymoney 4th XV in the McCambley Cup Final on Saturday 23rd April.
Cooke under Head Coach Colin Atkinson, will be quietly confident that the team can go one step further this season and return the McCrea Cup to Shaw's Bridge. They will look to emulate a four year grip the club had on this cup between 2006/7 and 2009/10. There was disappointment for Cooke when they narrowly missed out on finishing in the top four of Q1 this season to qualify for the AIL Junior Cup next season.
Malone 2nd XV, under the guidance of Malone stalwart Davy Heron have turned around a difficult first half to the season to make the McCrea Cup Final. 'Big Davy' as he is known to the faithful at Gibson Park was part of the Malone team that last won the trophy in 2011/12.
Malone 2nd XV route to the final
Quarter Final: Won 26-9 away to CIYMS
Semi Final: Won 24-17 away to Academy after turning around a 17-7 deficit
Cooke 1st XV route to the final
Quarter Final: Won 24-21 at home to Grosvenor
Semi Final: Defeated holders Queen's 2nd XV at home 25-8
Malone second row Matthew Doak was a winner last season with Queen's 2nd XV and will hope to see his Malone team lift the trophy again on Tuesday night (Kingspan Stadium, kick of 19.00) Tickets for this game can be purchased here. All support welcome!
Malone 2nd XV team and replacements to face Cooke, McCrea Cup Final:
15. Gareth Millar
14. Jonny Gregg
13. Nathan Brown
12. Ricky McCullagh
11. Phil Martin
10. Bruce Duff
9. Conor Henry
8. Ben McDonnell
7. Josh Ferguson
6. Max Porter
5. Chris Davis
4. Matthew Doak
3. Richard Bartley
2. Dave Cave
1. Lee Barlow (Captain)
Replacements
16. Connor Kelly
17. Kenny Calladine
18. Peter Ireland
19. Brendan Kearney
20. Finn Stoneman
Cooke Head Coach Colin Atkinson and his players are looking forward to finishing their season with a McCrea Cup Final at Kingspan Stadium. His players are well rested after completing their league campaign two weeks ago with a 20-18 win at Dromore. Atkinson has been pleased with the progress his young side has made this season and how their commitment and hard work has gelled them together as a tight unit. He is fully aware his team will require a top performance to get over the line and win the McCrea Cup. Four former Wellington College players including Sam Bridge, Brian Mannus, Andrew Hanna and Matthew Elliott will be included in the squad for Tuesday night's Final.
Hooker Niall Brown will miss the final due to suspension and the opportunity to play against his brother Nathan who will be starting on the Malone team. Cooke players Jonathan McClune, Liam Bennett, Russell Hunter, Brian Mannus, Matthew Elliott, Andrew Hanna, Andrew Pollock, Ian Anderson, Philip Cartmill, Andrew Nelson and Alex Gourley will bring experience to the team as they were also included in last year's final squad.
Cooke 1st XV team and replacements to face Malone, McCrea Cup Final:
15. Alex Gouley
14. Alan Gouley
13. Philip Cartmill (Captain)
12. Kyle Mitchell
11. Andrew Pollock
10. Andrew Hanna
9. Ryan Flavelle
8. Brian Mannus
7. Adrian Dodd
6. Sam Bridge
5. Scott McClelland
4. Andrew Quigley
3. William Dodd
2. Liam Bennett
1. Jonathan McClure
Replacements
16. Russell Hunter
17. Callum Robinson
18. Ian Anderson
19. Matthew Elliott
20. Andrew Nelson